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Positive inmates programme to contribute to national efforts to address crime PDF Print E-mail
Friday, 27 June 2008 14:17
Minister of National Security the Hon. O.A.T. “Tommy” Turnquest speaks to graduates during the Partners Against Crime (PAC) Behaviour Modification Programme in conjunction with L. W. Young and D. W. Davis Junior High Schools Graduation Ceremony at Her Majesty’s Prison, Thursday, June 26. Minister of National Security the Hon. O.A.T. “Tommy” Turnquest said the Ministry encourages the Positive Inmates Empowering Students (P.I.E.S.) Programme, which has the potential to contribute to national efforts to address crime and criminality, one of the most critical problems facing The Bahamas today.

Mr. Turnquest said the P.I.E.S. Programme is an important component of Partners Against Crime (PAC), which is a partnership of the uniformed law enforcement agencies of the Ministry of National Security.

Speaking at the PAC Behaviour Modification Programme in conjunction with the L.W. Young and D.W. Davis Junior High Schools Graduation Ceremony held Thursday at Her Majesty’s Prison, Mr. Turnquest said the thrust of both PAC and P.I.E.S. is to allow uniformed officers to relate to students in a non-threatening, supportive, nurturing and mentoring environment.

“Importantly,” he said, “it is also to provide a forum by which inmates who demonstrate remorse and show promise of rehabilitation can impress upon students the fact that crime does not pay.”

Mr. Turnquest also explained that crime and media reports present a bleak picture of what is happening in The Bahamas.

“School violence, street gang warfare, drive-by shootings, murders, armed robbery and other violent and non-violent crime all feature prominently in our crime statistics and reports.

“I am sure the inmates who have spoken to our students have indicated to them that a life of crime is a non-starter,” Mr. Turnquest added. “I urge our young people to heed their warnings.”

He said it is regrettable that much of the crime committed in The Bahamas today is committed by young people, and particularly young men.

Mr. Turnquest explained that this small group of wrongdoers tend to shape the news, and cause a giant cloud to be cast over the heads of young people in general.

“As a Government and people, however, it gives us confidence to know that the vast majority of our young people are decent, disciplined tolerant and law-abiding. They go to school regularly, they strive for good grades, and they lead industrious and constructive lives.”

The Minister said young people come under tremendous influences in a day, many of which are not positive. “In reacting to these influences, our young people may choose to conform to negative peer pressure, or they may choose to resist that pressure and stand for what they know to be right.”

He told the 80 junior school student graduates who spent three months in the programme that life is about the choices people make. Mr. Turnquest explained that unlike the inmates who willingly share their stories, the graduates still have the freedom to choose.

“You can make good choices or bad choices. Whatever choices you make, you and your country must live with them,” Mr. Turnquest said.

“You may live with a sense of accomplishment or you can live with a sense of regret. You can live in your home, or you can serve time in Her Majesty’s Prison.”

Photo: Minister of National Security the Hon. O.A.T. “Tommy” Turnquest speaks to graduates during the Partners Against Crime (PAC) Behaviour Modification Programme in conjunction with L. W. Young and D. W. Davis Junior High Schools Graduation Ceremony at Her Majesty’s Prison, Thursday, June 26. (BIS photo/Patrick Hanna)