The Recreation, Parks and Cemeteries Unit employs men who have successfully completed drug rehabilitation, said Cabinet Minister Arden McLean.
Mr. McLean |
Speaking at the cabinet press briefing Friday, Mr. McLean said the Unit had been employing the men since it was established late last year.
‘From all reports that I’ve been receiving, these guys are working,’ he said.
A couple of the men have particularly shown an interest in their work.
‘I’ve very proud of them,’ Mr. McLean said. ‘They are showing initiative and doing a lot of work. They are genuinely concerned about the conditions of our parks, and they’re the first to report any abuses at our parks.
‘I really feel good about this.’
Mr. McLean said he had spoken with his ministry’s chief officer about employing men coming out of drug rehab a long time ago, and that he’d also spoken with other members of cabinet about it.
‘We are the most unforgiving people in the world,’ he said. ‘People aren’t allowed to make mistakes. I want to change that.’
Men who have had drug problems are often not given second chances in Cayman, Mr. McLean said.
‘That is why we have the recidivism we have in this country.’
Mr. McLean said people trying to make positive changes in their lives should be encouraged.
‘We all make mistakes,’ he said. ‘Some make more than others.’
Although he was unsure whether any men coming out of drug rehabilitation had been employed in other departments in his ministry, Mr. McLean said he had spoken with the deputy director of the Department of Environmental Health about the possibility.
Mr. McLean said hoped to see other government ministries and departments follow his lead and that he hoped other chief officers encouraged their departments to hire men coming from drug rehabilitation.
‘If it is within the guidelines and policies of the department, give them a chance,’ he said.
Mr. McLean said that by allowing the men to lead productive lives so they could earn a decent living and put food on the table, it not only helped society, but also the government.
Instead of the men becoming wards of the state, they go to work and government gets production from them, he said.
Health Minister Anthony Eden said he appreciated Mr. McLean’s initiative.
‘Government should lead by example,’ he said.
Mr. McLean agreed and said he hoped the private sector would follow government’s lead and try hiring men who have successfully completed drug rehabilitation.
Related Videos
