Agricultural rehabilitation programme |16 June 2025
Agriculture department and Seychelles Prison Services sign agreement
The Agriculture department and the Seychelles Prison Services recently signed an agreement aimed at supporting the rehabilitation of inmates serving their sentences at Montagne Posée prison by engaging them in agricultural activities.
The agreement was signed by the principal secretary for Agriculture, Keven Nancy, and Commissioner of Prison, Janet Georges, in a short ceremony at the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment in the presence of officials from the two entities.
PS Nancy said the department is willing to support the Seychelles Prison Services (SPS) by introducing inmates to agricultural practices so they could in return help the prison to be self-sufficient in agriculture products. This would help reduce the cost of local products as well as send them on a new career path, which would be useful once they leave the institution.
According to PS Nancy, by keeping them engaged will also help reduce the time spent idling.
For her part, Commissioner Georges highlighted that the initiative presents a significant opportunity for both the SPS and the inmates, as it will promote greater productivity within society.
She added that through this agricultural rehabilitation programme, inmates will have the chance to learn and share their experiences with other inmates, which may motivate them to participate in the programme.
She shared it was some inmates who reached out to her expressing their desire for a rehabilitation programme in the agricultural field and expressed her appreciation that the department of Agriculture has agreed to partner with them in this endeavour.
Under this initiative, the inmates will be under the complete supervision of Prison Services throughout the programme and must adhere to the code of conduct set by both SPS and the Agriculture department at all times. Staff from the Agriculture department will also guide the inmates in various tasks, including land preparation, weeding, crop and livestock maintenance, forage collection, and any other duties that may be assigned.
Text and photos contributed