The Pointe Blanche Prison is the topic of positive news twice in today’s paper, not something seen often. The Law Enforcement Progress Committee last month reported “light at the end of the tunnel” regarding the building of a new penitentiary, appointing a programme manager for St. Maarten’s Detention Plan and formalising function books for police and prison staff.
The Dutch government is making 20 million euros available for the construction plus 10 million to fund other improvements. An implementation agreement with the United Nations Organisation for Project Support (UNOPS) was mentioned.
Less favourable is that illness-related absence remains high among prison personnel. However, human resource expertise is being provided by the Netherlands and the Volunteer Corps VKS assistance to help guard the facility and its population was extended, with the intention to involve them in activity programmes for inmates.
The latter were also behind the Justice Ministry’s donation drive for the prison library in cooperation with University of St. Martin (USM). They collected more than 300 “gently used” books in genres that the detainees had indicated during a survey.
That may not seem like much, but could prove significant. Knowledge – even obtained in captivity – is power and has the potential to truly change one’s life.
More is obviously needed when it comes to re-socialising especially young prisoners to try to prevent them from turning into revolving-door criminals and a constant burden to society. Nevertheless, just a few good books to read can already make a big difference.
