The Ministry of National Security in conjunction with The Bahamas Department of Correctional Services Chaplaincy Unit held a one-day staff empowerment seminar, hosted as a meaningful day of encouragement.
The opening ceremony was held September 16, 2026 at St. Paul’s Baptist Church, Bernard Road, bringing attention and awareness to the strengthening of five core topics for frontline officers: Faith, Purpose, Integrity, Resilience and Emotional Well-Being.
Commissioner of Corrections Doan Cleare brought brief but impactful remarks as he spoke to the introduction of probation and parole to our country and the significance of it all.
The commissioner shed light on the fact that numerous events, seminars and training to properly implement the new probation and parole system have been taking place regularly for months now, and will continue to do so.
“We will have something going on today, tomorrow, some training here and abroad, some self-awareness exercises and then we will be sending more persons off to study parole in a few days again” — highlighting the importance of properly trained officers and staff within the prison system to ensure reform in the residents when they leave.
Minister of National Security the Hon. Myles Laroda took the podium and began his remarks by giving praise and credit to the recommendations that commissioner and his team made that have brought forth so many of the progressive steps they are now taking. He then spoke to the depth of their jobs and the heavy responsibilities and requirements that come along with their positions.
“Correction is too often seen only through the eyes of custody, but this department is equally an instrument of rehabilitation, of second chances, of national security in its truest sense. And because every inmate that leaves your custody better prepared for a lawful life is a future crime prevented.”
Minister Laroda addressed the need for proper care for the officers who are responsible for so much and ensured them that once they uphold the law and treat the persons in their care with care as they’re being rehabilitated, the ministry is always in full support. He added that if anyone chooses to go rogue, however, they will not be protected or backed by the ministry in that regard.
Upon the minister’s exit he was interviewed by the media and made mention of a few other progressive moves being made to better our correctional system, program and housing here in The Bahamas.
“A new 17-building structure with 20 new cells is already up to belt course, we are simply waiting for engineering and a few other parts of the building structure to arrive to complete.”
Minister Laroda also stated that he requested that the government use a fair number of residents to be part of the construction crew responsible for this project: “About100 residents are participants in this building process which gives them an opportunity to not just earn but to learn a trade and skill.”
The current structure is only built to house about 900 of the 1,700 residents that it does house.
BDCS has also begun Probation and Parole Community Meetings which have been held weekly on a Wednesday evening. They hosted their first meeting at Government High School, Wednesday September 9th under the theme: “Rebuilding & Transforming Lives Through the Implementation of a Probation, Parole and Community Industries Program.”
They have 3 other meetings already lined up for the month of September:
C.R. Walker Senior School Wed. Sep. 16th at 6p.m.
Anatol Rodgers High School Wed. Sep. 23rd 6p.m.
Doris Johnson Senior High School Wed. Sep. 30th
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