~ 30 guards on sick leave ~
POINTE BLANCHE--Authorities will be requesting that the Social and Health Care Insurances SZV doctor investigate the "disproportionately high" cases of Pointe Blanche prison guards who are on sick leave.
This will be done in addition to the Government Accountant Bureau SOAB investigation that is currently underway.
Justice Minister Dennis Richardson painted the grim picture of the high level of absenteeism at the prison due to illness during the Council of Ministers' press briefing on Wednesday.
He said that while the plans for the prison called for 207 fulltime "equivalent workers," there were currently 107 fulltime equivalent workers in the facility's employ, which is already 50 per cent below capacity. A total of 30 of the fulltime workers are on sick leave, which is being investigated by SOAB. This means that only 77 fulltime prison guards are actually working, putting the manpower capacity at a mere 37 per cent. A total of seven persons are needed per shift.
"This means that continuously a disproportionate appeal has to be made on a small dedicated, hard-working group in the prison. This is not sustainable. Measures will be taken to tackle the sickness in first instance," Richardson said.
"We know there are some honest chronic cases, but allegations of abuse are rife and will be dealt with rigorously, as not appearing on the job when one should be there, but is seemingly fit to be out and about and doing other work, is tantamount to reckless endangerment of their colleagues."
He said an SOAB was conducting investigation into the sickness and circumstances that promote the "disproportionately high level" of illness. At the end of the investigation, persons who are declared fit for work, but are not working, either would have their salaries withheld or would be dismissed.
In the meantime, the minister said bolstering the staff at the prison was a "slow process" due to the current financial constraints. Twelve cadets were added to the prison in 2012, 20 were added in 2013 and 10 will be added this year.
"Due to the financial constraints, more cannot be done at this moment, but we will have to look at taking temporary measures to help alleviate the situation, pending the structural growth of the institution," he said.
The Dutch penitentiary also will be approached to investigate the possibility of providing temporary support from the Netherlands in view of the downscaling of the staff in the Netherlands.
