Who Is Going To Rescue the Prison Service?

IF there is any Government department which needs a rescue, it is the National Prison Service.

There is no need to play hide and seek. Public funds are being wasted.The ship called NPS is sinking.SOS signals have been sent over the years but no body seems to be picking up the call! Why are the following things being allowed to continue:* Prisoners’ money is disappearing and the Government is made to pay as a cover-up.* Recreational club funds have disappeared.Why suspend one person when there is a long list of senior people who benefited at the expense of junior officers? * Recently, we read that the Commissioner has a criminal record of drunk driving.This is a moral issue; the man can no longer command respect and enforce discipline without implicating himself.* Utter Confusion: Who is in charge, the Permanent Secretary or Commissioner Of Prisons? One is appointed by the Public Service Commission, the other by the President of the Republic.Even more confusion – the Ministry of Prisons and Correctional Services was dissolved by a Presidential decree more than 18 months ago, and yet operations and rules and regulations are still as if there was no direction from the Head of State.They even defy the President of the Republic! No wonder there are no changes.* Absence of a consistent way of doing things.What is done today is not correct tomorrow, and then a few weeks later the earlier practice is done again, it’s a vicious cycle.There is no clear way of doing work.It’s more like a cuca shop! All decisions are made by the owner on the spot! * Corruption.Don’t even talk about corruption; it’s the order of the day.They are even cheating the Ministry of Finance.Proof: compare approved budget with the actual expenditure! * Favouritism: People are being victimised for airing their honest opinion.* Abuse of power * Incompetence at senior levels.People have no idea where they are going.I call upon the Head of State and all those concerned – do something NOW.Because the above issues are not even new or exhaustive.There is plenty more where this came from.Concerned Citizen Via e-mailPublic funds are being wasted.The ship called NPS is sinking.SOS signals have been sent over the years but no body seems to be picking up the call! Why are the following things being allowed to continue:* Prisoners’ money is disappearing and the Government is made to pay as a cover-up.* Recreational club funds have disappeared.Why suspend one person when there is a long list of senior people who benefited at the expense of junior officers? * Recently, we read that the Commissioner has a criminal record of drunk driving.This is a moral issue; the man can no longer command respect and enforce discipline without implicating himself.* Utter Confusion: Who is in charge, the Permanent Secretary or Commissioner Of Prisons? One is appointed by the Public Service Commission, the other by the President of the Republic.Even more confusion – the Ministry of Prisons and Correctional Services was dissolved by a Presidential decree more than 18 months ago, and yet operations and rules and regulations are still as if there was no direction from the Head of State.They even defy the President of the Republic! No wonder there are no changes.* Absence of a consistent way of doing things.What is done today is not correct tomorrow, and then a few weeks later the earlier practice is done again, it’s a vicious cycle.There is no clear way of doing work.It’s more like a cuca shop! All decisions are made by the owner on the spot! * Corruption.Don’t even talk about corruption; it’s the order of the day.They are even cheating the Ministry of Finance.Proof: compare approved budget with the actual expenditure! * Favouritism: People are being victimised for airing their honest opinion.* Abuse of power * Incompetence at senior levels.People have no idea where they are going.I call upon the Head of State and all those concerned – do something NOW.Because the above issues are not even new or exhaustive.There is plenty more where this came from.Concerned Citizen Via e-mail