COMGEN appreciates officers’ commitment during civil unrest
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
MBABANE – “Many opportunists will seek the opportunity to manipulate you now that you are on standby,” Commissioner General Phindile Dlamini said yesterday when bidding farewell to 22 Correctional officers.
She urged them to be an extended eye for His Majesty’s Correctional Services and the country at large on opportunists.
“We are very optimistic that you will continue to be our extended eye,” she said.
The event took place yesterday morning at the Staff College in Matsapha, where the Commissioner general (COMGEN) was accompanied by other senior Correctional officers who included deputy commissioners.
While the country was still recovering from the perils of COVID-19, she said the department was once again faced with a national unrest.
During this period, the COMGEN said they displayed the highest level of commitment towards defending the beautiful country.
“You did not throw in the towel because you were only left with a few years but continued to be officers in full,” she said.
She also praised the role that the retired officers along with their officers-in-charge played towards the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the midst of the pain and confusion caused by this virus, she said, the officers stood firm and became front barriers.
As a result, she said the role they played during these difficult times would never go unnoticed.
She then urged the officers to continue upholding the values and principles that moulded them over the past years into being a better people that they have become.
The commissioner general said she had so much confidence in each one of them that they would continue exhibiting behavioural traits befitting the status of a Correctional officer.
Dlamini said members of the community were still looking upon them as officers of the State. The Correctional Services principal praised the good work, commitment and dedication displayed by the retired officers throughout the various years of service. As a token of appreciation, the retired officers were each presented with a goat along with certificates of loyalty and good service to the department.
“It is true that when you joined the department, you were very young, some of you unmarried, filled with energy to work and it brings so much joy that today, we are celebrating the very same energy which you exhibited over the years of your tenure in the service,” she said.
Through their efforts, she said the department was able to fulfil and achieve most of its dreams and plans for being a world-class institution.
LEaving
“You have been part of the transformation journey from prisons to Corrections and you are leaving the organisation as a better place today,” she said.
She also stated that in all the past years, the retiring officers have administered their wealth of knowledge to younger officers who came after them, which she said, has not been an easy task.
The commissioner general said they did all of these things in spite of the fact that they worked under very challenging circumstances.
She said the challenging circumstances included lack of resources
to do daily daunting task of being a correctional officer (sleepless nights).
Dlamini thanked them for their support and contribution towards departmental programmes, including various sporting codes and cultural activities.
“All the victories we made and achievements ahead, we shall continue to celebrate together,” she said.
The COMGEN emphasised these achievements made HMCS to treat them as officers on standby as opposed to references such as retired officers.
“The department, therefore, takes the opportunity to congratulate all of our retired officers on this accomplishment and further prays that God gives you more blessings as you integrate back into society and spending the latter part of your lives with your families,” she said.
“As a department, nothing would make us more proud than hearing each one of continue living a healthy and happy life. For this reason, I want to pledge all our support in relation to healthcare services,” she said.
She further assured the retiring officers that the department’s healthcare facilities would continue to open doors for them and their families.
“We want to see you beaming with the same smiles we are witnessing today,” she said.