7TH NELSON MANDELA DAY OBSERVATION 2024
It is a privilege for me to be here this day with you, for yet another observation of Nelson Mandela Day, an annual event observed globally every 18th of July. This year’s UN theme is, “IT IS IN YOUR HANDS”. What this theme loudly communicates, is a call for engagement and coming together, for communities to address issues with determination and focus to gets things done better.
I wish to congratulate Commissioner St. Ange and his team for being consistent in observing this special day, for the seventh year in a row since it was first observed in 2018. It confirms to the public at large, if anything that the Seychelles Prison Service engages in a transparent manner alongside the Neslon Mandela Rules.
Commissioner St. Ange has brought to my attention, at our numerous briefing meetings, the concerns of the prison service that more and more, they find themselves managing inmates who are either being admitted or already convicted, with social behavioral issues, or exhibiting psychological concerns, and health complications. The health and wellbeing of both inmates and staff who are exposed daily to extreme events, remain a concern for my ministry. The way forward and strategies that will be presented to us, will go a long way to drive improvements towards 2024 -2029.
Strategy initiatives, which will compliment approaches currently being undertaken within either the Law Enforcement community or steps, which will be taken to improve and address current concerns.
While the prison service projects forward its intentions to continually improve, let me now acknowledge successes achieved by this current management team.
An asset registry is now in place and regularly updated. Controls have been implemented for purchases and are regularly assessed. Over-all participation and modern management practices are in place where in the past they were lacking. New outputs to operations were added such as the prison escort unit. To note that in 2023 this unit escorted four thousand inmates with very little incidents recorded. Even more impressive, and again in 2023, well over 350,000 meals were served, lunch and dinner. Here I need to mention the improvements made to purchasing of rations, and the controls that are in place. A prison being a prison, where challenges are encountered, forward thinking is needed.
I also note the relative success and good participation of inmates under a community service approach. Here I will make mention of the ‘Respe Nou Vwazinaz’ campaign, launched some thirty-six months ago, involving different sectors to engage with communities to address the ‘respect’ of self, community, villages and districts, a sense of responsibility and ownership, as we all work to address at times unsocial behaviour directly linked to criminal activity.
There is certainly an immense effort and focus needed. Some inmates will gladly engage with the prison service to positively take part in the rehabilitation approach, which is on offer. Some others however will not, and will continue to push the envelope, so that they can continue to engage in acts of criminality and disorder. For them, it’s simply a self-destructive outcome.
Commissioner St. Ange will, in the plan to be presented bring out a few areas that are to be improved at Montagne Posee.
It is without doubt, that the future plans for SPS Montagne Posee will position this prison unit to be well advanced within the Region.
In conclusion, The Nelson Mandela Rules on the humane treatment of prisoners in our custody remains, for the prison service, a key area of work, as it continues to ensure compliance to this internationally recognized standard. Health, treatment, and care of inmates as an example is one rule within one hundred and twenty-two rules that needs to be carefully and systematically observed and applied. Doing so, enables an inmate to regain a footing, necessary for his life and that of his or her family. While health and wellbeing remain a priority for the prison service to address and deliver, it is also a responsibility of that inmate to take his or her health seriously as well.
Here I wish to acknowledge that the Prison services does attract a range of criticism, some valid whilst some not so much. But if one person has been able to be faithful to this one management-rule of “Ignoring the noise and remaining focus on your goals”, the Commissioner has been an example.
I thank you and I know that the Seychelles Prison Service with determination and dedication and with staff who serve with integrity will be able to address its continued challenges and improve. I look forward to the points that will be raised at a first ever roundtable and at the workshops that will be followed and carried out by RESORE on Restorative Justice. Here is an example where one entity, being the Advisory Committee on Presidential Pardons, recommended that Restorative Justice be firmly part of the rehabilitation process and how this was positively received and acted upon by the prison service.
Let us keep on working not in silos but across sectors for a stronger resilient Seychelles. My wish as I conclude is for these events to continue. With that said let, us meet up again at the eighth-event next year on 18 July 2025.