The return of religious services to Point Blanche Prison (see related story) after eight months is a significant step for all those involved. It expands opportunities for spiritual support, personal development and positive engagement with the wider community as part of broader inmate rehabilitation efforts.
The first sessions were conducted jointly by the Anglican and Moravian Churches, both members of the Christian Council. They offered prayer, reflection and spiritual connection, which can play an important role within a correctional environment. Since then several faith communities were mobilised to participate through collaboration with the council, the St. Maarten United Ministerial Foundation (SMUMF), the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church and more partners who have supported this cause in the past.
Providing regular opportunities for worship and spiritual engagement contributes to a humane and rehabilitative prison environment and reflects the principles set out in the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the so-called Nelson Mandela Rules). Rule 2 requires that "the religious beliefs and moral precepts of prisoners shall be respected," while Rule 66 states that, so far as practicable, every prisoner shall be allowed to satisfy the needs of their religious life by attending religious services provided in the prison and by having in their possession religious books.
This initiative is delivered under the Detention Sector Reform Program (DSRP), co-funded by the Justice Ministry and the Dutch government, implemented through a partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). It once again shows that everything is not on hold pending the building of a new prison and improvements are still being made.
Moreover, available project funding makes the latter possible, as is the case with means to construct the new hospital used for upgrades at St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) in the meantime. Consequently, the impact of means provided by the Netherlands since Hurricane Irma for these two purposes goes much further than meets the eye.
