Twelve New Corrections Officers Join Ranks

Col. Lamb, Service Chiefs, officers, men and women of the Department of Corrections, ladies and gentlemen; good afternoon, it is a pleasure to be here this afternoon.

Thank you for the opportunity to say a few words on an occasion that is justifiably filled with pride and a sense of achievement after a demanding training course. I was most impressed several weeks ago when I had the opportunity to meet these new officers.

Each of them explained clearly what had drawn them to this branch of the uniformed services and based on what they said then I am certain there is potential in this group for a future Commissioner of Corrections.

Managing inmates at any time presents challenges, in these times it is especially challenging.
More than ever, the community relies on the Department of Corrections to fulfill a core portion of its mission: “to empower inmates to be responsible and productive citizens”.

This means that the men and women who choose to wear this uniform are called to a unique kind of service. It means that you occupy a significant position of trust in the criminal justice system and more importantly in the chain of measures designed to stamp out things like the gang lifestyle, drug abuse and parental neglect.

Prison walls and cell doors are physical requirements of this work. However, open minds, willing spirits and a desire to always see your charges improve are fundamental for this work to be rewarding and successful.

I am pleased to join with your fellow officers as well as your friends and families today in congratulating you on this first step towards a career that is so vitally important to positioning Bermuda for renewed promise and success.

Let me also thank the Training Team who has gone above and beyond the call of this duty to produce a body of officers well prepared for the challenges of modern corrections.

In closing I urge you to wear your uniform with pride.

You have earned it and remember that your calling is always in the public eye; you will always be judged critically but if stay true to what you have learned through your training you will always be in a good position.

On behalf of the Government and people of Bermuda, thank you all for answering the call to service and I wish you every success in this new and rewarding career.

Thank you.

The Honourable Minister, Michael Dunkley, Secretary for National Security, Major Marc Telemaque, Commissioner of Police, Mr Michael Desilva, Chief Fire Officer Mr Lloyd Burchall, Regiment Second-in-Command, Major Warren Furbert, Collector of Customs, Mrs Lucinda Pearman, Director of Court Services, Mrs Gina Hurst-Maybury other invited guests, family, friends, and most importantly, those of you who stand on parade.

Today is a wonderful occasion for the Department of Corrections. Wonderful in that we are able to produce such a fine group of young men who have chosen a career as Corrections officers.

I am very proud of the men on parade today and am happy to welcome them all into the Corrections family. By now, they will have realized that we in Corrections are a vital part of our community and that their careers will be challenging and rewarding.

On parade today are people who will play an important role in performing our duty to serve our Country. The point I would like to emphasise today to the recruits is that this is not a job –this has to be a calling!! This is a calling for those of us who accept the opportunity to serve our people.

Sometimes that service is not appreciated by the wider community but that must not dissuade you from giving your very best for the benefit and betterment of our Country. A wise man once said “the true measure of a man is not how many servants he has but how many people he serves.”

Today, I would like to express my gratitude to the members of the training team, who have produced this outstanding recruit intake.

I commend all those who assisted in their training, especially Acting Principal Officer Gladwyn Simons and Basic Officer Kevin Simmons, both of whom have worked tirelessly from the start of the recruiting process until this visible culmination of that process. I also commend Assistant Commissioner Keeva Joell-Benjamin who also played a critical role in the recruiting.

I also want to thank all of you who are part of their support system: parents, grandparents, wives, brothers, sisters, extended family and friends. I implore you to continue to encourage and support your Corrections Officer as they begin their journey of service to our Country.

To those on parade today I say “well done”. You have earned the right to be on parade today. I expect you now to conduct yourselves with honour, dignity and pride as you go about performing your duties and to uphold the Department’s Core Values of Professionalism, integrity, respect, accountability, dedication, courage and unity.

Remember that your conduct, on and off the job, is a reflection of all of us in this Department and I expect you to set and maintain very high standards of personal deportment.

The strength of our organization, our families, our community and our Country rests with men and women of exemplary and respectable conduct; men and women who are leaders with strong ethical and moral values and a devotion to serve others.

Never forget WHY you are here and that is to make a POSITIVE difference in the lives of those in our care and to be a POSITIVE example and role model to them. Managing inmates in today’s world is a real challenge and you have to ever diligent and vigilant as you perform your duties.

However, inmates must be treated with respect and dignity, despite what they have done. It is your DUTY to treat them with dignity, with respect and with humanity and I expect no less from you. In order to achieve our Mission we have to believe that they can be better people and with your help, they will be better people.

So, starting today, make your mark on the Corrections family. Don’t be someone who just goes through the motions but rather, make a real contribution to the cause.

Let your work from today onwards reflect who you are and what you have to offer this Country. Most of all, don’t be someone who curses the darkness but rather, someone whose light constantly shines.

Well done again, to all of you!!

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