00:00President of the Prison Officers Association, Gerard Gordon, says the association is perplexed
00:07that key discussions on prison reform are taking place without its input.
00:12Not even the practitioners, the prison officers on the executive of the Prison Officers Association
00:22are working prison officers.
00:24And to think that important discussion is being ignited, initiated,
00:36and we were not even invited to be part of that process.
00:46As government moves to modernize rehabilitation and prepare for the implementation of the Parole Act 2026,
00:54Gordon tells the Morning Edition he's not against any reform,
00:59but notes that critical realities within the prison system must be addressed.
01:04With three-quarter of our population being remanded individuals,
01:09we have no access to them in any real sense.
01:13They have no access to parole because they have not been convicted.
01:22And we are very limited on the assessment tools that we could utilize on the individual who has not been
01:30found guilty.
01:38He is appealing to the ministers and the technocrats to understand that prison conditions must become a priority,
01:47warning that without strengthening the system itself, meaningful reform could fall short.
01:53The prison officer, the engine room of having these things implemented and done,
02:04needs attention, and that attention goes to the salaries that we are paid,
02:12the outstanding overtime we are owed,
02:15the office we are expected to operate in.
02:18And when I say office, our office are the wings and divisions of the prison.
02:23Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
02:26Carol M. Romany, TV6 News.study9
02:28News. Carol M.
02:31Romany, TV6 News.
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