Hot spot cleared at Au Cap |28 February 2022

Detainees clearing the hot spot next to the school and playing field at Au Cap (Photos: Joena Meme)

A cleaning activity initiated by the Au Cap district administration in collaboration with the Seychelles Prison Services was organised last Saturday next to the playing field and school.

Even though it was raining heavily, the nine detainees on the reform programme, accompanied by rehabilitation officer Donald Zialor and some police officers actively got to work and set out to clear the ‘hot spot’ currently being occupied by drugs addicts and dealers to conduct their illegal activities.

This type of activity is an ongoing programme organised by the Seychelles Prison Services.

Minister for Internal Affairs Errol Fonseka and the commissioner of prisons, Raymond St Ange were present.

“This exercise started through an initiative by the commissioner of prisonsto include the inmates who are following a reform programme. At the same time it is part of the educational programme where the inmates are learning about the disasters that are happening in the community and once they get out they should contribute positively towards the community,”said Minister Fonseka.

“We are implementing our reform and it concerns each individual in Seychelles. We are trying to inculcate respect and all these ‘hot spots’ are too close to our community and our law enforcement will be dealing with the issues. I thank the prison services, the police force, district administrator Sabrina Assary and member of the National Assembly for Au Cap Kelly Saminadin for supporting this activity,” added Minister Fonseka.

He noted that right now the police aren’t able to work in different places at the same time to clear hot spots.

“We are reinforcing our units to be able to multitask. My message is simple, we are trying to transform our country. We are looking for opportunities for people to venture into different businesses and go into good businesses. People with initiatives have the opportunity to go into clean businesses and sleep well at night,” urged Minister Fonseka.

As for the commissioner of prisons Raymond St Ange, he explained that the detainees havebeen chosen to be on the reform programme following an assessment andinterview with them.

“Most of them want to return to their community and make it safe and after proposing this idea to the minister, we got the go ahead. We have to make sure that our future generations inherit a better and cleaner Seychelles. Counselling is also part of the programme. We are encouraging people to mend their ways as in the future the government is planning for a stricter prison and life will not be easy for many. The prison services have adopted a few places to clean,” concluded Mr. Ste Ange.

Vidya Gappy