Seychelles and Israel discuss mutual support in prison services and rehabilitation

The Superintendent of Prisons, Raymond St Ange, has described his recent visit to Israel as “solid and positive” after holding discussions with the Israeli prison authorities.

Following an invitation by the Israeli ambassador to Seychelles, Oded Joseph, Mr St. Ange completed a series of meetings with senior officials from the Israel Prison Service (IPS), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the Prime Minister, and the Ben Shemen Youth Village for youth at risk.  The visit was conducted from January 16 to 21, 2020.

The Ben Shemen Youth Village, managed by general director, Dr Ilana Tischler, is a facility providing accommodation, classes and other positive experiences for 450 at risk youth aged between 6 and 18 years. 

Dr Tischler explained the programme in detail and said that the facility offered hope for juveniles who may have faced further challenges from law enforcement if not for the approach of the youth village.

A meeting with the acting Commissioner of the IPS at its headquarters, Major General Asher Vaknin, provided an opportunity to discuss matters of mutual interest.  In particular, the IPS has agreed to discuss mutual support and specialised training for staff of the Seychelles Prison Service (SPS). A memorandum of understanding is being proposed.

Following the meeting, Superintendent St Ange, accompanied by Eli Rasin, toured a prison facility and viewed several rehabilitation projects which are successfully being implemented by the IPS. 

Prison intelligence gathering and security approaches were also discussed.

Superintendent St Ange called on the deputy director for African Affairs in the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Eynat Shlein, and the acting director general in the Office of the Prime Minister, Ronen Perets, in Jerusalem.

While in Tel Aviv, Superintendent St Ange used the opportunity to meet Seychelles’ honorary consul in Israel, Arie Goldstein, who for the past 26 years has been actively promoting Seychelles there.

Commenting on his mission, Superintendent St Ange said: “I have had solid and positive meetings in Israel.  I have been totally impressed with the Israel Prison Service, its rehabilitation of inmates and its positive management of them.  From what I have seen with what the IPS is doing, we at the SPS are on the right track.  As regards to the youth village, an extraordinary team is doing great work for these youths.  We in Seychelles can certainly learn from them.”  

It should be recalled that the SPS currently has an MoU with the Tanzania Prison Service and it is supposed to enter into a technical working committee with the Mauritian Prison Service.

The SPS has as well announced that its guiding theme for 2020 is ‘Towards a professional prison service’.