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L’express (2/12/209) carried an interview with Siegfried Samuel on the problems of social re-integration of ex-prisoners in society. Samuel speaking for NGO Ki Nou Ete said his association was not receiving the support it needs from the Police Commissioner and others to prepare and enable discharged prisoners to fit in society properly and successfully.

The problems faced by discharged prisoners are: (1) Retrouver un emploi est une des étapes les plus importantes de la réinsertion sociale; and (2) le Commissaire de Police ne facilite pas notre entrée dans l’enceinte des prisons. Pourtant, nous avons maintes fois souligné qu’il est primordial pour nous de faire un suivi auprès des prisonniers qui seront bientôt libérés, pour les besoins de leur réinsertion par la suite dans la société.

The volunteers/members are not being allowed in prisons to undertake the activities such as counselling; their volunteer psychologist Nicolas Soopramanien, is being refused permission to visit prisoners. Last year, the same NGO’s chairperson, Pauline Bonieux, explained the work of her association and the kind of service they intended to provide for discharge prisoners.

The editor of Liberter-Plus has written about such problems in his monthly several times. He himself has had no preparation or support on his discharge from top security prison not so long ago.

Every support/assistance should be given to recognised bodies that are prepared to make a difference to the lives of discharged prisoners. Otherwise they will simply return to the activities they know best, criminal behaviour. There is enough of this on the island to begin to deter tourists to our country. So, why is there no support for this NGO? There must be reasons for the authorities to block this type of work. Drug trafficking, weapon smuggling and violence on staff are a regular occurrence in our prisons. Authorities have to be careful for the protection of all concerned.

Are the members/volunteers of good character? Have they undergone a disclosure check by the appropriate authority? Are they working in tandem with other credible agencies on the island?  What programme of training have they been put through? Are their work monitored by any authority? Who are their trustees? Are there already other agencies doing similar work with discharged prisoners currently? What statistics are there to show discharge prisoners are settling/integrating poorly in society? What studies have been done on discharged ex-prisoners in Mauritius?

In India, the Sarvadoya Gandhi Association has worked with both prisoners and their guards; and they have both studied the teachings of Gandhi on non-violence and taken exams as a form of preparation for discharge and reintegration in society. Perhaps this is something worth considering by the authorities in Mauritius.

Dr David Lingiah

Psychologist

Scotland