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Lieutenant Colonel Trevor Pennyfeather
By Aabigayle McIntosh
Superintendent of His Majesty’s Prison, Lieutenant Colonel Trevor Pennyfeather, is calling for rehabilitation programs at the penal institution to be made mandatory.
During an interview on state media, Pennyfeather emphasized the positive impact of such programs, citing the example of Mellanson Harrison, a Barbudan convicted of the 1994 murders aboard the Challenger yacht.
Harrison, who was re-sentenced to life in prison but granted early release in 2016, was recently freed after serving 30 calendar years.
Pennyfeather stressed that rehabilitation should be a key factor in early release, noting that good behavior alone is insufficient, and he has raised the issue with the Attorney General.
He believes that inmates should not only gain skills but also rehabilitate mentally and spiritually.
Meanwhile, Harrison’s co-accused, Marvin Joseph, remains behind bars.
Rehabilitation is the new buzz word on everybody’s lips these days. But, must society which has already been victimized once ( leading to incarceration) be victimized over and over again? Rehabiltation sounds noble to those who wish to appear worthy of society’s commendation. Reality check: 1) Rehabilitation is extremely expensive. Just those in charge of rehabilitating of less able men, women and especially our children, our hapless individuals trying to overcome drug and alcohol abuse, our ill patients trying to readjust their lives following a debilitating illness – stroke, diabetes, cancer and the like. And now the choir of do-gooders calling for rehab of incarcerated criminals. Any calls for the victims of the actions of the criminals who end up in jail? The parents/families of murder victims, the shopkeeper traumatized by a face to face encounter of a gun-toting animal, a rape victim, a physically scarred man or woman from
domestic abuse?
In my humble view, let the incarcerated criminal pay for their own rehabilitation. They should sentenced to a term WITH HARD LABOUR attached, the earnings from which could be used to provide whatever our expensive counselors, psychologists, and sociologists recommend. Please don’t strain and drain the Treasury any more than is necessary.