By RHONDOR DOWLAT Friday, September 10 2010

PRESIDENT of the Prisons Officers Association (POA) Rajkumar Ramroop yesterday said although there has not been a comprehensive analysis of Wednesday’s budget presentation, they are eager to see what the National Security Minister John Sandy has in store for the Prisons Service, when he speaks in the budget debate.

Ramroop said the association welcomes the initiatives announced by Finance Minister Winston Dookeran with respect to transformation of law enforcement agencies. “He mentioned a safer society and proposed to reintegrate ex-prisoners, deportees and delinquent youths. We welcome this but there must also be a comprehensive analysis of the current system with the goal of genuine reform. For example proper drug programmes and a well-structured correctional programme,” Ramroop said.

“We must be able to properly rehabilitate prisoners before they move to the re-integrative state. We support initiatives of mentoring,” he added. In Wednesday’s budget presentation, $4.7 billion was allocated to the Ministry of National Security.

Dookeran announced that a monthly Special Duty Allowance of $1,000 will be paid to the more than 7,000 officers in the Police Service taking effect from October 1. He said taxes on this allowance will be waived in accordance to Section 124 of the Income Tax Act.

This allowance, he said, will be funded from the transfer of funds from within the Ministry of National Security. Ramroop said while he is happy for police officers, he hopes prisons officers will be recognised as well for the contribution they make.

According to the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP), projects implemented by the Prisons Service to advance its rehabilitation programmes recorded expenditure of $19.1 million in fiscal year 2010. The main activities included completion of ducting for underground lines, purchase of materials for upgrade of an electrical kiosk at Golden Grove Prisons which cost $2 million; continuation of improvement work at the Bakery and Food Services area and commencement of work on the Airing Yard at the Maximum Security Prison.

Development of terms of reference for the conduct of a site survey in respect of the construction of a perimeter fence at the Maximum Security Prison; continuation of construction works at a cost of $1.5 million on the Milk Parlour and Sheep Pen for the Animal Husbandry programme at Golden Grove; completion of fabrication and erection of structural steel for the Officers’ Dormitory and the west wing of the Senior Officers’ Mess at a cost of $3 million.