Government W&E Program to Employ Ex-Inmates
Minister of Works and Engineering Derrick Burgess today [Sept 27] spoke about a new joint initiative between the Ministry of Works & Engineering and the Bermuda Department of Corrections which has already seen the employment of six former Westgate prison inmates.
Minister Burgess said “The Transition Initiative 2010 is designed to offer a great opportunity for a new and fresh start for those who desire to make the change. It is a chance to get the best out of individuals who may have made a wrong decision in their past but are now making the most of their second chance.”
The Department of Corrections worked with the Ministry to come up with a profile of former inmates based on their skill sets, experience, and conduct whilst incarcerated. Applicants were interviewed based on recommendations and their employment skills, and the six successful applicants were then placed in jobs throughout the Ministry for a twelve week period, after which an evaluation will be undertaken.
Minister Burgess’s full statement below:
Good Morning,
Today I am very pleased to announce a new joint initiative between the Ministry of Works & Engineering and the Bermuda Department of Corrections that has already seen the employment of six former Westgate Correctional Facility inmates.
Incarceration is a punitive measure that seeks to hold individuals responsible for their actions while ensuring that communities are governed by the rule of law and justice.
We often follow the plight of the guilty, but rarely trumpet the redemption of those who pay for their crimes and then integrate back into our community, with the prospect of becoming positive contributors to our society.
The Transition Initiative 2010 is designed to offer a great opportunity for a new and fresh start for those who desire to make the change. It is a chance to get the best out of individuals who may have made a wrong decision in their past but are now making the most of their second chance.
It is often asked, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” My personal answer to this question has always been, “Yes!” and so the thought of how I could open a door for those who may have felt it closed to them, came to me, and I quickly reached out to the Commissioner of Corrections who eagerly joined me in this initiative.
With The Transition Initiative 2010, The Ministry of Work and Engineering and Department of Corrections fulfill their desire to assist individuals, by giving them the opportunity to develop their skills, and by helping them to transition back into the workforce and mainstream society.
As a Government we are responsible to our people. The private sector provides jobs to those formerly incarcerated, and on an ongoing basis Government continues to find new ways to enhance its social reform agenda.
The Transition Initiative 2010, had Department Heads in the Ministry of Works and Engineering convene to identify special projects within the Ministry that could be undertaken, and the Department of Corrections provided a detailed profile of potential applicants, categorizing their respective job skills.
The Department of Corrections worked closely with the Ministry to come up with a matrix/vocation profile of former inmates based on their skill sets, experience, and conduct whilst incarcerated. The Ministry also conducted preliminary assessments of the special projects to which the skill sets of these former inmates could be applied.
Applicants were interviewed based on recommendations and their employment skills, and I believe we not only selected jobs that need to be done but we also selected people best suited to do them.
The six successful applicants were then placed in jobs throughout the Ministry for a twelve week period.
Following the initial 12-week programme, an evaluation will be undertaken and subsequent follow-up and discussion will determine the viability and sustainability of such a programme for the future.
By all accounts thus far, it appears that the initiative is going well, as both participants and supervisors have had nothing but positive comments.
Such comments are: “I really enjoy the work and the opportunity I have been given; I am very grateful,” and “These guys are doing a really good job – an excellent job indeed.”
The Ministry of Works and Engineering and the Bermuda Department of Corrections are confident that The Transition Initiative 2010 will help Bermuda in many ways. In particular we believe it will help reduce the demand on the Bermuda Police Service, the public education system and a number of helping agencies throughout the community.
It is important that Government render support to people who we believe are on the path of redemption. By striving to improve their skill levels and helping to equip them to enter the workforce with confidence, it is our intent to assist them to become productive citizens.
The Transition Initiative 2010 is such a programme and we believe it exemplifies Government’s commitment to this effort.
Thank you.
This news disgusts me, considering I myself have never been in prison and am a hard working young man who has applied for a position at W&E TWICE in the past year, only to be told that they were not hiring!!!
Yes I think that is great idea, people do change but it is hard to find employment.
Ex-inmates also need fit back into society and they get treated like animals in prison. they also deserve to be treated like humans they are people after all you know.everybody makes mistakes.
While I agree that this initiative has benefits when you consider people being locked up because of lack of work opportunities; now getting a chance to get their life straight with a paying job, it’s hard not to feel for individuals like “disgusted”.
I have preached to my child about doing right, as wrongs will follow you later in life when you want to do things like travel or get a job. What message does this send? “I can’t get a job, however prisoners now have a program in place giving them an advantage over me?”