A murder, a dead body found on prison premises, four detainees escape? These are just a few of the many incidents that have been shaking the prison administration since 2004. They are signs of an ?explosive? situation that neither the previous not the current government has managed to deal with. Will Bill Duff?s departure give a clearer understanding of the problem or will it bring even more confusion to an already tense situation?

Only time will tell? When Bill Duff was appointed by the previous government in 2004, he was expected to put order and discipline in overcrowded prisons and unruly detainees. His experience in prison circles in Great Britain was intended to serve the purpose in Mauritian prisons where it seemed no one had managed to remedy the long-standing crisis.

Two years later, the facts show that the situation has not improved at all and this may have led to a crisis between him and the government. Even though the official version is that Bill Duff?s departure is the conclusion of a ?mutual agreement?, internal sources reveal that he has been forced to resign.

As soon as he assumed duty at the head of the prison administration, he clearly showed his sympathy for rehabilitation and sentence reduction in certain cases. ?We would be able to bargain. If a prisoner knows he has nothing to lose, why should he behave himself? But if he is given the possibility of getting out of prison before his due date, he will think twice. Then, this would be a way of killing two birds with one stone because, if detainees were freed before time, this would make more room in prisons and solve the problems linked to overcrowding at the same time,? explained Bill Duff while still in charge.

<I>Of course, prisons should be used as a way of preventing dangerous people from threatening law and order in society. But prisons also aim at another objective. </I>

According to former prison commissioner Deepak Bhookhun, the ?problem will not be solved with Bill Duff?s departure. The problem is deeper and we should act consequently. Bill Duff is a good professional even if our realities in Mauritius are different from the situation in London. The whole system has to be reviewed,? he pointed out some time ago.

Just like Bill Duff, he firmly believes that the overcrowding of prisons is the main problem that has to be tackled? And the only way to achieve this seems to be sentence reduction. But the government has never really shown any will to implement sentence reduction. Even though the attorney general, Rama Valayden, announced he was working on its implementation, it seems the government has not really supported the move? probably so as not to put the population?s backs up.

Many people are indeed afraid that granting prisoners reduced sentences might lead them to commit more crimes as soon as they are out. There is no doubt that the risk exists. But wouldn?t rehabilitation be a good way of minimising this risk? ?The staff has an essential role in rehabilitation. But an exhausted staff ? having to deal with too many prisoners ? can?t lead to a sane management of prisons. Consequence: rehabilitation is almost nonexistent,? explained Deepak Bhookhun. All this seems to be a vicious circle and nothing will change unless there is a real desire to review the whole system.

The problem of the prisons is also linked to the perception of the public and of the authorities. Of course, prisons should be used as a way of preventing dangerous people from threatening law and order in society. But prisons also aim at another objective. As the psychologist and coordinator of the association Ki Nou Ete, which deals with detainees in prisons and as they are released, points out, ?Is it a closed area that allows us to avoid facing our problems? Or is it a place where detainees are taught to become aware of their actions and be better citizens after their release??

The government should be able to answer all these questions before even thinking of better days in prisons. It will probably appoint a new commissioner in the coming days ? the name of Vijaya Narayana, an Indian adviser, has been mentioned but no decision has been taken so far ? but will this change anything in the present mess? The lack of courageous action by the government may actually be the main cause of the problems in our prisons? So be warned!