Inmates at Black River lock-up allowed pre Father's Day visit with family

10:33 am, Fri June 14, 2024

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An inmate gets his hair combed by his spouse during Friday's pre Father's Day visit.

Another inmate saw and fed his child for the first time.

The initiative was spearheaded by Superintendent Coleridge Minto, head of the St. Elizabeth Police.

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Assistant Commissioner Calvin Allen, head of the Area 3 Police, and Attorney-at-Law Thomas Levene

By Prince Moore/Kimone Witter

Five inmates at the Black River Police Station in St. Elizabeth were given the opportunity on Friday to share pre Father's Day greetings with their spouses and children.

The initiative was spearheaded by Superintendent Coleridge Minto, head of the St. Elizabeth Police.

The occasion was one in which some of the children were seeing their fathers for the first time.

The day's activities were held in a secure and sterile environment and attended by Assistant Commissioner of Police for Area 3, Calvin Allen, Custos of St. Elizabeth Beryl Rochester and the Victims Support Unit.

ACP Allen shared his observation while speaking on Radio Jamaica's Hotline on Friday morning.

"I'm watching one spouse getting a chance to comb the hair of the partner that is incarcerated and I'm looking across at the table and seeing a father who is behind bars, for the first time seeing his child, and he is now feeding the child with some of his breakfast. But on the bigger scale of everything is the fact that we want to somehow highlight that this is another side of the Jamaica Constabulary Force which exists," he said.

Attorneys for the inmates have welcomed the initiative.

"This initiative by Superintendent Minto is fully supported by the defence attorneys in St. Elizabeth as it reminds all of us that the accused men on remand are still humans despite their circumstances. Whereas many positions of authority and influence use the term stakeholder participation as a talking point, this commanding officer has gone the route of action with a touch of humanity," declared attorney Thomas Levene.

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