Minister of Home Affairs and Information Wilfred Abrahams has lauded prison officers for their heroic contribution at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak.
As he delivered remarks during the Medals Presentation Ceremony for officers of the Barbados Prison Service at Dodd’s Prison, St. Philip, Abrahams thanked the officers for being responsible and following protocols implemented to control the spread of the coronavirus.
He said while there were several outbreaks at the St Philip-based penal institution, they were brought under control because the warders understood what was at stake.
“A prison being what it is, a closed environment, anything that constitutes an outbreak will spread. Things will spread in a prison faster than they would spread anywhere else, except perhaps a hospital. So we have had our difficulties with COVID, we have had periodic outbreaks, but I believe they have been handled well,” he said.
Minister Abrahams said his appreciation for prison officers heightened during the pandemic, when at one point, some of them had to leave their families at home, to stay at the prison and tend to the business of the country.
“That was not an easy time. For those of you who sacrificed to do what was right for our country and to preserve our national security I commend you, I compliment you and I ask you please to give yourself a round of applause. Your service during this time will never be forgotten.
“If the prison had been compromised, [if] you think we had difficulties during COVID, all hell would have broken loose and I am glad that it did not. On every occasion I get the chance to do it, I compliment the [Barbados] Prison Service for stepping up to the plate,” he said.
Minister of Home Affairs and Information Wilfred Abrahams (centre, front), Permanent Secretary Deborah Payne (third from left, front), Acting Superintendent of Prisons DeCarlo Payne (second from right, front), Assistant Superintendent of Prisons Vincent Alleyne (right, front), Assistant Superintendent of Prisons Major Cedric Proverbs (left, front) and Abrahams’ personal assistant Nadia Adams, along with officers who were awarded for their longstanding contribution to the Barbados Prison Service.
In January 2021, a major COVID-19 outbreak left 363 infected including 85 prison officers, 261 inmates and 17 staff members. During the outbreak which was brought under control in three weeks, there was a complete lockdown of the facility with no one being allowed to enter or leave the location.
“You all got some assistance from the BDF [Barbados Defence Force] and some are still here, but it was nothing short of a heroic gesture between you and the BDF. A prison being what it is, those who are here don’t have a choice but to be here. They have got to be here so you have got to be responsible for them,” Abrahams said.
At the ceremony, the minister and top management of the institution presented scores of retired officers with medals and certificates for 15 to 25 years, or more, of service.
Abrahams thanked the awardees for helping to maintain law and order in Barbados at a critical stage.
“Prison is where we reserve for those persons to whom nothing else other than prison would suffice. You have been charged, not with maintaining law and order generally, but with the safe custody, in some cases with the rehabilitation, the encouragement, the helping to turn around the lives of some of the most hardened criminals in Barbados.
“You are persons who make a difference between whether that person comes back out and re-offends, or whether that person finds Jesus in prison, or finds some other inspiration that they can look at and say ‘I don’t want to be back here’. Yours is a critical, often underappreciated job and role.”
(AH)
