Agriculture Department and Prison Services Sign Rehabilitation Agreement

VICTORIA, Seychelles — The Department of Agriculture and the Seychelles Prison Services (SPS) have signed an agreement aimed at supporting the rehabilitation of inmates serving their sentences at Montagne Posee prison by engaging them in agricultural activities. The agreement was signed by the principal secretary for Agriculture, Keven Nancy, and Commissioner of Prisons, Janet Georges, in a short ceremony at the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment in the presence of officials from both entities.

PS Nancy said the department is willing to support the prison services by introducing inmates to agricultural practices so they could in return help the prison to be self-sufficient in agricultural produce. He added that this would help reduce the cost of local products, as well as send inmates on a new career path that would be useful once they leave the institution. According to PS Nancy, keeping them engaged will also help reduce the time they spend idling.

For her part, Commissioner Georges highlighted that the initiative presents a significant opportunity for both the SPS and the inmates, as it will promote greater productivity within society. She added that through this agricultural rehabilitation programme, inmates will have the chance to learn and share their experiences with other inmates, which may motivate them to participate. She shared that it was some inmates who reached out to her expressing their desire for a rehabilitation programme in the agricultural field. Under the initiative, inmates will be under the complete supervision of prison services throughout the programme and must adhere to the code of conduct set by both SPS and the Department of Agriculture.