The government of Antigua and Barbuda plans to amend the law to reintroduce hard labour for able-bodied prisoners, including requiring inmates to perform public work and help beautify communities.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced the proposal Saturday on the Browne and Browne Show as he outlined a series of planned changes to the country’s criminal justice system.

Browne said he understands that legislative amendments are required before the government can implement the programme.

“From now on, after we have made the amendments, those who go to jail who are capable, they’ll be going to jail with hard labour,” Browne said.

The prime minister suggested that prisoners could be placed in uniforms and assigned to clean streets and perform other community-beautification work.

“Put them in uniform and put them on the street,” he said. “They should be cleaning the streets and let them beautify the place.”

Browne said the government wants to move away from what he described as a system in which prisoners can serve their sentences without making a meaningful contribution.

“This idea that you go to prison and relax like a holiday — let’s put it this way, there’s no free lunch,” Browne said. “No free lunch for prisoners either. You must earn your keep.”

The prime minister did not provide a timetable for the proposed amendments or details about the types of work prisoners would perform.

He also did not indicate what safeguards would govern the programme or how authorities would determine which inmates are physically capable of participating.

The proposal forms part of wider criminal justice changes being pursued by the Antigua and Barbuda government, including minimum sentences for serious gun and sexual offences and changes to prison remission.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: VIDEO: Antigua and Barbuda Plans to Reintroduce Hard Labour for Prisoners.