The Kolbe Foundation

Our Achievements

In the First Year, 2002 to 2003 we accomplished the following:

Administrative

• Changed shift system from 3 eight hour shifts to 2 twelve hour shift. 0700hrs to 1900hrs. This increased the manpower capability on the ground and cut cost as each shift change has a cost involved.
• Changed the rank system and started utilizing the rank of Grade II Officer that was there but not used. This opened up the ranks for promotion and boosted morale.
• Increased salaries of all employees who signed on by an increment and also gave promotional raises.
• Started implementing the Prison rules as pertaining to Officers and conduct and dress.
• Have put in place a payroll system that can track staff and provide a comprehensive data base for employees.
• Have implemented a strict accounting system that is done as per recognized standards.
• Have well underway a database system for Inmates Penal Records. The aim will be to tie it in as soon as the Police and Immigration and other relevant authorities get a system of their own. It will be the first ever functional database system in place at the Prison.
• Boosted Perimeter security with the hiring of a Santa Marta Team (ex-military) who work a solid 7 day shift; they bring along a certain mystique with them, they are not easily intimidated as no one knows their origins or family and they respond to instructions to the letter.
• Have done the first ever formal training of prison officers who were recruited and trained at the Belmopan Police Training Academy.

Infrastructure

Built a new front entrance to the facility including fences, gates and a control/reception building, armory, Quick Response Team (QRT) Office and a storeroom for inmate’s belongings.

• Built a public and a staff parking lot.
• Built a new waiting area for the public who come to visit inmates.
• Converted the old entrance building to an overnight holding cell area for new entrants to the facility. This now doubles as the processing area for inmates.
• Built shelves and implemented storeroom procedures for the storeroom.
• Totally renovated the Officer’s Barracks and outfitted it with 28 bunk beds, stove etc for use and comfort of Officers.
• Started a 16 acre agricultural project, ploughed and harrowed and did irrigation and bed preparation. Have already planted beans, cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, cucumber, cassava, cilantro and many more items. Also have reaped some products already.
• Have totally renovated the Clinic building and have upgraded it to a “hospital” with bed facilities and an isolation ward.
• Have renovated a wing of the Remanded Section thereby upgrading 10 cells capable of holding 80 inmates.
• Have built 3 new classrooms.

• Have connected the prison unto the water main by running 2 miles of pipeline so that there is now potable water being piped in. Have also installed a 12,000 gallon water tank for emergency use.
• Have embarked on a project of putting toilets in the cells and have recently completed design and construction of a sewerage lagoon to handle the waste. There was no sewerage system in place and slop buckets were utilized.
• Have built a new kitchen facility that includes a mess hall whereby for the first time ever inmates can sit and eat like humans.
• Have a fencing project ongoing that has created new passages, fence and  gates. It also encompasses repairs to existing fence.
• Construction has started on a new Youth facility (Boot Camp) that will be capable of housing 160 inmates after full completion.Design and construction is in place for a new Inmates Services area that will be upstairs of the current Boot Camp. It will house a library, 3 classrooms, a computer lab, a tailor shop, barbershop, 4 offices and additional area for other programs that will come on line.
• Have started construction of a new super max building to segregate the most serious offenders who are a menace to the security integrity of the facility.

• Extensive land filling has been done and more will follow so as to fill up all the swampy areas in and around the facility.
• All the existing septic tanks have been pumped so as to temporarily alleviate the sewerage problem.
•  Have systematically been through the buildings and did repairs to plumbing and electrical along with leaks in the roofs.
• Have a full time maintenance staff - plumber, certified electrician and construction supervisors.

 Inmate Welfare

• Have installed a PA system that covers the entire facility whereby religious programs along with educational material and family oriented programs are aired daily. It operates the same as a radio station. Live church services and sports casting are the order of the day.
• Have purchased 1000+ blankets for inmates.
• Solicited and received donations of pillows, buckets, kitchen equipment, sporting supplies.
• Have arranged for various church groups and qualified doctors to come in and administer to the inmates on a regular basis.
• Have removed restriction on who get visits and when. Visits are 7 days a week for everyday of the year and as long as an inmate qualifies he can get his visit regardless of what area of the facility he resides.
• Have increased recreational hours for the inmates.
• Have a full time sports coordinator whose sole purpose is to organize sporting activities for the inmates.
• Have assigned a senior officer to look after the complaints and welfare of the inmates.
• Have implemented a system of family days for the various sections where the family is invited in for the day to eat and spend time with the inmate with the facility providing food.
• Have a full time counselor and a full time Psychologist who do counseling to inmates.
• Have solicited and received some aid for vocational skills training to keep inmates occupied.

     In the second year, 2003 to 2004 we accomplished the following:

• One of the most important accomplishments was the completion of the Wagner Youth facility.
• Also the completion of the Rotary Learning Center.
• Recognising the need for segregation and special attention to those who have severe behavioral problems, the supermax facility was also completed in this year.
• Improving the prison water system by drilling a well and installing filtration and water treatment equipment.
• Expanding the Remands Center by adding 11 cells capable of housing 50 more inmates.
• Completing a sewerage system for the entire prison, installing and linking all septic tanks to a sewerage lagoon.
• Tiling the kitchen.
• Upgrading of the woodwork shop into a full production facility.
• Expanding farming by procuring additional acreage, renovating and upgrading the pig facility and constructing chicken barns for broiler production.
• Launching of the PAWS project in cooperation with the Belize Humane Society whereby prisoners care for and train street puppies and dogs for adoption.
• Installing and operating a computer lab with 21 computers and a repair workshop.
• Constructed a building to house a jewelry- manufacturing workshop.
• Setting up and operating facilities for the manufacture of Cubel concrete blocks.
• Providing a new guard tower for the farm.
• Establishing a facility to house convicted vagrants.
• Completing a controller’s office. (Controller is the resident employee for the Government who ensures Kolbe's compliance with the contract.)
• Renovating the records office. (Where all the files and data on inmates are kept.)
• Expansion of educational classes in Literacy and Mathematics for the inmates of the Max/Medium Section of the prison.
• Setting up a payroll for working inmates and establishing a saving system for 50% of their earnings.
• Setting up a system of mandatory schooling for all inmates workers as part of the reward system.
• Establishing a database identification system for staff.

     In the third year, 2004 to 2005, we accomplished the following:

•  Built and started operating a tourist center near the parking lot area for the prison.
• Got a donation of $250,000.00 that was used for the construction of a building design as an addiction rehabilitation center.
• Was admitted as the 113 country into Prison Fellowship International and formed Prison Fellowship Belize.
• Got an additional donation of $25,000.00 from which a tradeline for the Wagners Youth facility was constructed.
• Expanded chicken production to provide for the full 30,000 lbs of chicken that is consumed monthly.
• Tiled the officers barracks.
• Built a visiting center for the public to visit inmates.
• Renovated the old visiting area to become a new holding cell.
• renovated the old holding cell to become the new processing center.
• Sent staff to Mexico for 3 months to partake and to learn an addiction program.
• Brought on staff additional teachers and counselors.

     In the fourth year 2005 to 2006 we did the following:

• Obtained a donation of $1.5 million and had a pledge from the Government to match that for a total of $3M for prison expansion.
• Obtained an additional USD$60,000.00 from a foundation in the States for joining of two minimum security buildings.
• Upgraded the tailor shop to an industrial production shop.
• Acquired a conventional concrete block making plant to manufacture blocks for the construction of the two above projects.
• Purchased a saw mill so as to cut logs for lumber.
• Tiled the Control of the prison. (the entrance for people into the facility)
• Started operation of the Addiction Rehabilitation Center with a first group of 52 inmates.
• Constructed a state of the art conference room with all the relevant technology for training and Board meetings capable of holding 50+ person.
• Received a donation of USD$60,000.00 in steel for construction of 800 metal bunk beds.
• Construct a new modern Mechanical/Automotive workshop to cater to the vehicle fleet.
• Renovated the Control Entrance with a new Search Room  and appointed a dedicated search team.

    In the fifth year, 2006 to 2007, we did the following

•  Started construction of a $3M prison expansion project.
• Got a 8 classroom school facility donated by the United States Government.
• Agitated and got the Parole Laws changed so that an inmate may be Paroled after served 1/3 of his/her time rather than 1/2 of sentenced served.
• Also got two more seats on the Parole Board for Kolbe Foundation.
• Also did away with the system of Volunteer Parole Officers and had Kolbe Staff appointed as monitors and supervisors of parolees.
• Got renewal of the Kolbe Contract for an additional 5 years to manage the Belize Central Prison.
• Bowen and Bowen donated a new shop within the Prison facility.
•  The Belize Central Prison - Kolbe Foundation was featured at the Prison Fellowship International Convocation in Canada and Belize won the best artist and the best documentary award.