Second chance for ex-prisoners

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Minister Mustapha Abdul-Hamid has revealed government was helping to keep ex-prisoners out of crime by providing $500,000 to several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which are helping to re-integrate these individuals into society. Addressing the post-Cabinet news conference at Whitehall on Thursday, Abdul-Hamid said a report by Independent Senator, Prof Ramesh Deosaran, showed that 66 percent of the local prison population were recidivists and many fall back into a life of crime, largely due to skepticism by wide segments of the population.

Recalling that government created a committee and sub-committee to address the short and long-term concerns of ex-prisoners, the minister disclosed that Cabinet approved the distribution of $500,000 as a one-off  grant to NGOs “involved in the provision of services to ex-prisoners.” He said the funding would be divided between New Life Ministries ($200,000), In The Way of Holiness ($190,000), the Empowerment Programme ($60,000) and Transformed Life Ministries ($50,000). The minister added that the objective was to help these organisations improve both their capacity and levels of service to ex-prisoners.