Friday, November 17, 2006

ROAD TOWN, BVI: Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands Dr Orlando Smith told regional prison officers attending a conference here this week that the challenges facing the prison systems today continue to increase.

The Chief Minister was speaking to local and overseas delegates at the 20th Overseas Territories Heads of Prison Conference.

He said his government puts a premium value on hosting important regional conferences, like this one, as the BVI continues to strengthen cooperation in functional areas and play its full part as a mature Caribbean Territory.

Smith said the challenges countries face in the prison systems continue to increase. He said this then puts respective territories under increased pressure to come up with effective measures for addressing those problems. Within the global context, as of 2006, it is estimated that at least 9 million people are currently imprisoned, he said.

The Chief Minister said it is believed that this number is likely to be a lot higher, in view of general under-reporting and a lack of data from some countries. "It is also worth noting that since the beginning of the 1990s, the prison population in most countries has increased significantly, according to one leading source. And the facts show that the situation in our respective territories is similar to the trend that has been noted in countries around the world," Smith said.

The Chief Minister spoke about overcrowding at prisons. He said, "Overcrowding is only one of the many issues confronting us, as in many Caribbean countries over-packed jail cells are filled with remand prisoners, persons facing lesser charges, and inmates convicted for minor offenses."

"Coupled with that, there is also the sensitive challenge of rehabilitating prisoners and ensuring they endure the penalty of punishment for the crimes committed, while recognising and respecting those prisoners’ fundamental human rights," the BVI Chief Minister said.

Smith said many territories experience similar problems in their prison systems. "Hardly anyone will disagree that, while our territories are scattered at different points across the Caribbean Sea, many of the issues we confront in our prison systems are the same, although the sizes of our territories present their own challenges. That is why it is both prudent and advantageous for officers at the highest level to meet regularly in forums like this to discuss everyday challenges and look for real solutions."

He said, "It is hard for anyone to overstate the benefits that could be achieved when the Heads of Prison meet to discuss shared challenges while at the same time learning of each other’s best practices. As you all are aware, law enforcement is shared by many agencies and the prisons have a vital role to play."

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