By Shenia Roberts
Journal Staff Writer

The Davis administration continues to make good on their promise to increase the number of law
enforcement officers in the various departments with 115 new correctional officers graduating
last Friday.

The passing-out ceremony took place at The Bahamas Department of Correctional Services
(BDOCS) compound and was conducted under the theme “building on the legacy: steadily
advancing towards corrections. “The 115 trainee correctional officers endured six months of
rigorous training to prepare them both physically and mentally for the prison atmosphere.

BDOCS Commissioner Doan Cleare congratulated the new recruits and reminded them to
remain trustworthy and upstanding. He said “this is not an easy institution. It is difficult. It is
hard. I said to you that there’s a lot of temptations, but I’m looking forward to you being the
turning point in this whole new mindset of corrections, in that you will be confirmed in a year
with none of you being interdicted.”

 Additionally, Commissioner Cleare advised as to what should be avoided at all cost saying
“what I want to say to you is this, very simple, avoid temptation, avoid greed, avoid
corruption. These are a few words, but it will take you a long way.” 

Also offering congratulations and words of advice during the event was Minister of National
Security Wayne Munroe who emphasized that “this is a major milestone for you (graduates)
and the beginning of what we all hope will be a long rewarding career.”

Minister Munroe also added that “we (the government) expect you (graduates) to act
responsibly and ethically in order to effectively contribute to the safe, secure, humane custody
of the residents who will be entrusted to your care.” Munroe emphasized that the officers

would have the greatest opportunity to positively impact those incarcerated due to the
extended amount of times they encounter each other.

Furthermore, he encouraged the new recruits to have positive impact on them and to foster
“strong and ethical relationships. He also encouraged the recruits to remain positive role
models for the officers and to maintain a level of integrity.

In Munroe’s closing remarks he shed light on the various improvements being made to
BDOCS and noted that these advancements would make the institution a much better place to
work.

Consequently, he noted that further recruitment exercises are ongoing and encouraged more
residents specifically young men to apply.

Last month 100 new recruits joined the police force and there is approximately two weeks left
for new recruits to sign up for the defence force.