The Conference which got started this morning includes participants from the 19 member states of ACHCPS while the training sessions will be conducted by Mr. Autry Graham of the United Kingdom.

Speaking at the opening Superintendent of Prisons Eric Rodrigues gave some back ground on the Association which was established in 2002. He said it came out of disturbances in St. Vincent's prisons and the need to seek help from the British Government which came in the form of Nicholas Brooke - Prison Advisor. He said Brooke made an assessment of St. Vincent & the Grenadines and the other Caribbean islands and saw the need to unify the prison system and training.

Rodrigues pointed out that it is in the best interest of the Caribbean to work together, assessing and attacking crime to make the region a better society. He said a lot of the crimes in the Caribbean are really foreign to the region and can best be handled if attacked together.

Remarks were also delivered by Resident British High Commissioner Sandra Tyler Haywood. She said the theme of the conference was apt, as punishment is necessary and important when the law is broken but the British Government sees the jobs of heads of correctional facilities as not only to punish but to rehabilitate and ensure that when perpetrators are released they can fulfill a useful role in the society. Haywood said she is hoping that ideas will come out of the conference for alternative sentencing and literacy training in prisons.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves was slated to deliver the featured address but was unable to attend. However, his address was read by Sir Vincent Beache, Security Advisor to the Government.

The address pointed out that prior to 2002, a situation existed where prisoners dictated policy which clearly indicated that law and order was at its lowest. This, it said, lead to priority being given to the reform of the prisons with officials at the prisons being reoriented. They had to move from the old philosophy of punishment to that of correction. The address stated that the new agenda continues to focus on a new management system, conceptualizing of a modern facility with a new vision, instituting a training regime for prison officers and introducing programs for prisoners' re-entry into society.

The address indicated that the theme of the conference - From punishment to correction- is in direct keeping with the Government's agenda.