Westgate To Host Father’s Day Event [Postponed]
[Updated] The Westgate Correctional Facility will host its 5th Annual Father’s Day event for inmates this coming Saturday [June 17] at Malabar Field from 10am to 2pm.
According to the Department of Corrections, the aim of the Father’s Day event is to assist in fostering strong relationships between inmates and their children, as well as to afford the opportunity for inmates to spend quality time with their family in a less restricted environment.
And as this is the fifth year of the programme, Attorney General Kim Wilson said she is pleased to see that the initiative has “clearly been a success, growing from strength to strength since 2008.”
Minister Wilson said today, “This initiative was the vision of the Commissioner of Corrections, Lt. Col. Edward Lamb, and I want to take this opportunity to thank him for his passion towards this project – a project which seeks to make better men, better fathers and more responsible citizens of our inmates at Westgate.”
Minister Wilson continued, “Far too often there are entities within our community who would rather spend time deriding aspects of our prison system. While I recognise that there are challenges, I am of the view that it’s also critically important to let the public know that there are some very positive initiatives taking place within our system – and the Annual Father’s Day event is one of them.
“It is one of those programmes that is mutually beneficial to all concerned. We believe it fosters good will among our inmates and our officers and it is an especially significant programme which impresses the importance of our incarcerated fathers playing a role in their child’s life.”
Minister Wilson explained that there are about 23 inmates [some of whom are from the Prison Farm] and 26 children taking part in Saturday’s event. However the Minister stressed that in order for an inmate to participate they must meet stringent criteria.
Minister Wilson concluded, “I believe that a child needs their father – and we believe that this event in some small way helps to bridge the gap between father and child. Ultimately it is our hope that our inmates and their children leave this event feeling optimistic that they can play a part in each other’s lives regardless of the fact that the father is incarcerated.”
Update 2.50pm: The event will still take place, however due to the inclement weather being experienced, it will not happen this weekend as Malabar Field has been completely washed out. The Department of Corrections has rescheduled the initiative for a date in the near future.
great idea, but rest assured there could be some drug deals going on this day…………………………..fix the problem before they get to jail….not when they get there.
Is this a BLOODY JOKE? The correctional system is way too kind here!
I hope these men have to be on good behavior or have some sort of points system to be eligible for this fun filled day..
@BdaLuvin…remember incarceration isn’t just about punishment, it is also about rehabilitation as well. Not everyone that is locked up due to violent crime. However, regardless of why they are there I don’t see how anybody can view this in a negative light. Like the Minister said, the inmates have to meet stringent criteria. I think that this would benefit both the inmate and the children- who no doubt miss their fathers. I don’t understand why some people have to criticize everything…I swear some Bermudians are the nastiest and most judgemental people on the planet.
Just wondering . . . who pays for this event???????????? Ok I get the point that prison is about rehabilitation, however, prisoners are not made to work to pay their child support or to take care of their children while incarcerated, as a matter of fact, prisoners don’t have to work at all if they choose to, taxpayers are paying for prisoners daily expenses.
And we as a government are doing this an added expense but asking government workers to take a 8% paycut and freeze our pension!!!!!!!!!!!! Are you serious??????
Do you people read? Minister Wilson clearly stated there are strict criteria to be able to participate.
I think this is a great idea to ensure the kids and the fathers are able to celebrate fathers day together, despite any transgressions committed by the fathers.
@SMDH!!!!!!!!!!!! What costs are you referring to? I’m sure its not some big, flashy spread….just a fun day for the inmates and the kids. As for not paying child support, have you stopped to consider that may be part of the stringent criteria Minister Wilson refers to? It is ONE day for crying out loud…Father’s Day! Again…stop being so negative!!!
You really have the AUDACITY to be having a Father’s DAY Gathering for PRISONERS!! I can’t believe how DOPEY you people are ! This is what you say and i quote ,” the aim of the Father’s Day event is to assist in fostering strong relationships between inmates and their children, as well as to afford the opportunity for inmates to spend quality time with their family in a less restricted environment.”AND YA DEAD SERIOUS THAT’S THE SCARY PART!” JUST SO YOU KNOW BECAUSE I THNK MAYBE A STRONG CASE OF AMNESIA MIGHT BE GOING AROUND BERMUDA SO BEFORE ANYMORE PEOPLE CATCH IT LET ME ENLIGHTEN YOU! FIRST THING, NOBODY THAT IS IN WESTGATE IS IN THERE FOR SOMETHING GOOD. SECOND THING, NOBODY GETS REWARDED IN LIFE FOR BAD OR ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOR BUT IT SEEMS THAT IN BERMUDA YOU GET HUGE REWARDS FOR THAT. THIRD THING, WHY ARE YOU BABYFYING THESE PRISONERS THATS WHY THEY DON’T EVER LEARN THEIR LESSONS AND THEY KEEP GOING BACK OVER AND OVER AGAIN (DON’T BELIEVE ME WELL THE STATISTICS WILL BACK UP EVERYTHING I’M SAYING!) FOURTH THING IF THEY REALLY REALLY WANTED A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR KIDS THEY WOULDN’T HAVE DONE WHATEVER IT WAS THAT THEY DID TO GO TO WESTGATE! NOBODY FORCED THEM TO GO UP THERE IT WAS ON THEIR OWN ACCORD! THEY DIDN”T CARE ABOUT NO RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR KIDS WHEN THEY WHERE OUT DOING A PACK! THEY DIDN’T CARE ABOUT NO QUALITY FAMILY TIME WHEN THEY WHERE OUT TERRORIZING BERMUDA! BUT YOU FOOLS WANNA HAVE A FATHER’S DAY GATHERING! OH AND ANOTHER THING JAIL IS SUPPOSED TO BE PUNISHMENT! LET ME SAY IT AGAIN “JAIL IS SUPPOSED TO BE PUNISHMENT NOT JOY”! WHEN YOU GO TO JAIL (WESTGATE) YOU SHOULD FEEL SHAME,EMBARASSMENT,UNHAPPINESS,GLOOM, GRIEF, MISERY, JOYLESSNESS and SADNESS. NOT IN BERMUDA THOUGH!! NOT AT WESTGATE !! AT WESTGATE BERMUDA RESORT THERE IS HAPPINESS, JOY ,JUBILATION, OPTIMISM, PEACE OF MIND , DELIGHT AND ELATION! AND ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT THEY HAVE HAD FATHER’S DAY GATHERINGS FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS! AINT THAT NICE! THIS IS JUST LIKE THE WESTGATE TIME SHARING IN FLORIDA WITHOUT THE PEDAL BIKES! I BETTER DO SOMETHING WRONG SO THAT I CAN BE REWARDED! WAKE UP YOU PEOPLE THESE PRISONER ARE THERE FOR BAD THINGS AND NOT ACHIEVEMENTS!THEY DIDN’T GRADUATE FROM UNIVERSITY WITH A DEGREE OR GET A PROMOTION ON THEIR JOB JUST SO YOU KNOW!THIS IS A SHAME!! And please BERNEWS ALLOW THIS COMMENT BECAUSE PEOPLE NEED IT!ITS THE TRUTH!
@pleasetellmeyajokingright…..your name must be Jesus because you speak like someone who is perfect but even Jesus was able to forgive. You seem to have some underlying issues you need to express because all of that anger surely can’t be expressed just because CHILDREN WILL BE ALLOWED TO SPEND TIME WITH THEIR FATHERS! Clearly something has happened to make you so mad….PLEASE DO TELL!! Children should never be made to suffer for mistakes of adults and if having a day with their fathers makes them happy then good stuff! I haven’t did my research yet but I am sure that Bermuda’s prison isn’t the only one in the world that does this sort of thing.
First of all I agree that inmate are in jail due to them doing somethin wrong but no1 is perfect nor do these kids that have parents in jail deserve to suffer for their parents wrong doings.. I have been to several of the Father’s Day events with my son and his father and it has been a full filled day.. My son gets to see his father once a month and me being a single mother it makes me happy to see my son lit up wen he sees his father. Yes I agree that the system down here is way to easy on these criminals but these kids deserve a change to have their father’s in their lives.. So for all of you who see somethin bad in this need to step back and realize that this is not totally for the freedom of the inmates but for these fathers who are not currently in their kids lives to get to bond with their kids.. Its hard enough having a childs father absent from their lives so please keep ur negativity to urselves and let these kids have a chance to bond with their dads.. Happy Father’s Day to all Father’s who are incarcerated as well as the Fathers that are in their kids lives and also to the single mothers playing both parts.. Hope you all enjoy ur day
A a mom who has kids with a man who has been in and out of the system and has hopefully on the outside for good…I totally support this initiative. Children should not bear the shame and guilt of not bonding with their father because of poor choices made by that adult. If stringent criteria is met this is a win win event. Dads bond with their kids, and realize that he has the opportunity to buck up cause he has a legacy to leave behind for their children, he has the opportunity to man up and express to his kids directly that they shouldn’t be like him, there is also an opportunity for relationship bonding. Children get to form a relationship and make judgements about their dad from their own experience. Kids arent stupid and most these days do not want to end up in jail. They will have to go through screenings and pat downs prior to getting to see their fathers, and this experience alone was enough for my kid to say that he’s never going to jail. Rehabilitation is necessary to help convicts reenter society, have self worth, and have the desire to become productive residents to Bermuda. It would be good if they can give the men trade certificates etc so that when they do get out, us moms can expect to get decent child support and the men can take care of themselves instead of running back home to their mothers.
I don’t see why we bother to lock people up in the first place. We all know Bermudians only go to jail because of racism and discrimination. It’s not like anyone really cares, except that they can’t do everything they want when they want. And maybe it’s not so nice now that they have those hardened criminals up there that all the prison officers are scared of. Before that it was not bad, and now these weekend parties with the kids, I mean what more can a guy ask for? Probably lay on some food because we all know any government sponsored event has to have a buffet. And, let me see…oh yes, isn’t there an election soon? I think those guys can vote. Not sure on that one, but if not, why not? But if so, are the all registered in Somerset? Anyway, I hope they have fun. Maybe someone could set up a charity to raise money so they can have more games and prizes and stuff.
This sh!t of prisoners not having to work if they so choose, is a load of crap! you don’t work…you don’t eat …simple…and i ain’k herrin you ’bout human Rights. If i don’t work ,then i don’t eat!…but the taxes that i DO pay is feeding them for doin’ f#kall.
Fathers Day for a bunch of muthas! What a joke
Like I said in my comment it is not just for the Fathers but for the kids who have been made to suffer for their fathers bad decisions.. @Single Mother I feel ur pain and like the sayin goes those who feel it kno it and u like myself have felt it and we kno how important it is for our kids to bond with their fathers whether they did wrong or not.. The rest of these ppl that are talkin bs need to back up and think if this was to ever happen to u or ur kids.. U would want ur child to have a relationship with their fathers.. My son is 6 years old and his dad has been in jail all of my sons life so the time he does spend with his dad he cherishes.. My son hasn’t got to hug or kiss his dad his whole entire life cause he has been behind a glass the whole time.. It hurts me to see my son upset at the fact that he can’t hug his dad but my son looks forward to fathers day every year so that he can bond n play with his dad.. Its bad enough that society make the kids suffer for their parents decisions let’s not let them suffer anymore and keep ur negative comments to urself unless u know first hand how hard it is to raise a child who has no contact with a parent other then to write a letter..