In a powerful display of compassion and inclusion, the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment visited female inmates at the Bordelais Correctional Facility (BCF) and treated them to a buffet lunch and fun games on Sunday, March 16, as part of activities commemorating International Women’s Day. The initiative, aligned with the 2025 International Women’s Day theme, Accelerate Action, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to reaching society’s most vulnerable, wherever they may be.

During the visit, Ministry staff presented each female inmate with a rose and distributed care packages, fostering a moment of connection and encouragement. Staff members also took time to engage in meaningful social interaction, including friendly rounds of dominoes, underscoring the importance of community and human connection even within confinement.

Addressing the inmates, Permanent Secretary Dr. Charmaine Hippolyte Emmanuel delivered a heartfelt message on perseverance, resilience, and reintegration. She emphasized that while the inmates' current circumstances may be challenging, their past does not define them and that their future remains within their control.

“As a ministry, we are indeed happy to be here with you today and to remind you that, yes, you are incarcerated today, but we think about you getting back into the community,” Dr. Hippolyte Emmanuel stated. “There are things, according to the law, that warrant your being at Bordelais today. However, spending time with you is not in any way condoning what happened—far from it. What we are saying is that you once had a place in the community; the community and your family await your return. Before you got here, you were beautiful daughters, beautiful wives, and beautiful managers of your homes, and you have to go back to continue in this light.

She further urged the inmates to take ownership of their rehabilitation, prioritize their emotional and psychological well-being, and recognize the support available to them through the Ministry of Equity and other government agencies.

Adding a deeply personal touch to the visit, Social Transformation Officer, Darnally Esteva, shared her own experience of growing up with an incarcerated mother, highlighting the far-reaching impact of imprisonment on families. “Many moons ago, my mother was an inmate in a federal prison, and when they say the kids do prison together with you, it’s true,” Esteva shared. “We missed her every minute she was gone, but she made us resilient even from there. She was across the sea, in another country—we couldn’t see her, we couldn’t get to her, but her strength reached us. She made us the men and women that we are today. Community work is often thought of as something done outside these walls, but you are a community too. Everyone has done things they wish they could take back or change. The message we bring to you today is that we are waiting for you on the outside, ready to help with your reintegration, to walk with you and stand with you every step of the way.”

The visit served as a profound reminder that the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment remains steadfast in its mission to empower all members of society, including those who have found themselves on the margins. By extending empathy, resources, and hope, the Ministry continues to bridge the gap between confinement and reintegration, reinforcing the fundamental belief that every individual deserves a second chance.