The Ministry of Home Affairs says construction on the $40M annexe intended to ease overcrowding at the Camp Street prison will start early next year.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release the ministry considers the construction of the two-storey building priority. Minister Clement Rohee said the administration is cognizant of the problems at the prison and that the building’s design has been completed. Government allocated the said sum for the construction after Rohee, during a September 26 visit to the institution, promised to address overcrowding.
According to GINA, government has also been working on several reform programmes to ensure prisoners can make positive contributions after they are re-integrated into society. Training in various skills, craft and agriculture and a literacy programme will be undertaken shortly. Currently there is a Prisoner Rehabilitation Programme that provides training in masonry, carpentry, tailoring, music, shoe-making, barbering and electrical technology. It is facilitated through government agencies in collaboration with non-governmental organizations.