Books donated to Department of Correctional Services
STATE MINISTER in the Ministry of National Security, Rudyard Spencer, is appealing for more corporate entities to partner with the Government in the delivery of various rehabilitation programmes for wards and inmates housed at correctional institutions islandwide.
“With purposeful rehabilitation, successful reintegration of our inmates and wards is possible. We have to continue to find ways to support the effective delivery of rehabilitation programmes and services,”he said.
The state minister was speaking at the launch of a book drive at the Metcalfe Street Secure Juvenile Remand Centre in Kingston on Monday.
Spencer said the initiative is part of the Government’s thrust to partner with corporate Jamaica in advancing efforts to reduce reoffending.
He praised LMH Publishing, Ian Randle Publishers, and the Kiwanis Club of Meadowvale for participating in the initiative by donating 26 boxes of books to the Department of Correctional Services (DCS).
The provisions comprise general reading books; Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) textbooks; remedial and intermediate books; magazines; and novels.
With these, the DCS now has new reading material to serve all 14 correctional institutions.
Spencer said the donations were especially significant for the wards, who have been working to improve themselves by taking advantage of opportunities to complete their education.
“It is important for us to understand the crucial role of our youth in not only our society, but in any society. The youth of today are our future. If we do not teach them, nurture them, respect them and facilitate their growth, what prospects do we have for tomorrow? Even though they have made mistakes, they can be redeemed,”he said.