Dominica’s national security landscape has marked a notable milestone in correctional reform, with National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore announcing a substantial reduction in the remand population at the Dominica State Prison during an official tour of the territory’s newly constructed remand facility.
As the minister confirmed during his visit, the number of people held on remand ahead of trial has fallen sharply from 143 to just 83 in recent months. This decline aligns with a broader downward trend in overall incarceration rates across the country. Blackmoore noted that the total current prison population stands at 191, a figure far lower than the incarceration levels recorded throughout the 1990s. He emphasized that the long-term policy goal of the current Labour Party administration is to drive the number of incarcerated Dominicans down to the lowest possible level.
Moving beyond mere population reduction, Blackmoore stressed that rehabilitation is a core pillar of the administration’s correctional strategy moving forward. The government is currently expanding access to a range of rehabilitation programming, with a particular focus on offenders incarcerated for non-violent offenses. The ultimate aim of these initiatives, the minister explained, is to equip incarcerated people with the skills and support needed to reintegrate successfully as productive, positive members of Dominican society upon their release.
Blackmoore also underlined the government’s commitment to upholding the basic human rights of all people held in correctional facilities, whether they are awaiting trial or serving completed sentences. He noted that this commitment is reflected in the design and amenities of the new remand center.
Jeffrey Edmond, Superintendent of the Dominica State Prison, provided additional details about the new facility during the tour. He explained that the project was first conceptualized by his predecessor, Kenrick Jean Jacques, to address chronic overcrowding in the original remand housing unit. As remand numbers grew in past years, the need for an alternative, purpose-built facility became urgent, leading to the construction of the new center.
The completed facility features 11 individual cells, each equipped with three bunks to hold up to three detainees per cell, as well as private en-suite washroom facilities. Edmond confirmed that the center is not yet fully operational due to a small number of outstanding logistical challenges, but the facility will be officially commissioned and open for full use in the near future.