THE LOW-KEYED NATURE of Prison Officers’ Week might have affected the number of people taking part in the various activities, but had no impact on the smooth precision of the officers taking part in the Superintendent’s Parade and the harmonious support of the band when the parade was staged at the three-year-old Dodds Prison yesterday.
After inspecting the officers on parade and proudly witnessing their precision and rhythm in executing some displays, Superintendent of Prisons Lieutenant Colonel John Nurse lamented the fact that “industrialised countries’ ailments” of the consumption of fast foods and a lack of exercise was affecting Barbados and the prison service.
Drills and parades
Nurse stated that drills and parades had always been a part of the prison service and did not arrive with him in the Barbados prison service.
The frank speaking head admitted that the outbreak of illness which affected both officers and prisoners, as well as the death of an inmate on Monday would have thrown a damper on the Week.
However, he lamented the fact that too many people shunned taking part in the week of activities, and even more shunned physical activities such as the parade because they were opposed to physical exercise, a critical component of being a prison officer.
Nurse had high praise for the prison band which was not financially supported by the prison, but had used its own funding and the personal time of its members to reach such a high level of performance that they were in constant demand by outside groups.
Nurse also indictated that financial cuts during the year had led to a lot of introspection and focus on being more efficient. He added that a study had been done of the Brazil rehabilitation programme and greater emphasis would be placed on teamwork and productivity during the coming year.
The canine unit gave some impressive displays during the parade and certificates were awarded to officers for long service, management courses as well as over two dozen women who had successfully completed self-defence training. (KB)
