AID Bank assists in rehabilitating female State Prison inmates

Supt. Blanc and AID Bank boss examines the sewing machine donated on Thursday
Supt. Blanc (left) and AID Bank boss examines the sewing machine donated on Thursday

One of the leading financial intuitions here has assisted in equipping female inmates at the Dominica State Prison in their road to rehabilitation.

The Dominica Agricultural and Industrial Development Bank (AID) on Thursday made a donation of one Singer sewing machine and a Panasonic television set valued between $5,000-$7,000 to the institution.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony Acting Superintendent of Prison, Dennis Blanc, said the prison has been for some time now trying to find partners to assist in rehabilitating efforts at the prison.

“We have over the years found a few, but the significant ones will have a lasting impact on our efforts here at providing rehabilitation for those in our charge,” he said. “And we pledge that these two pieces of equipment will be put into the use they are intended for.”

He said the institution is looking forward to other corporate citizens to follow the AID Bank’s lead.

General Manager of AID Bank, Julius Corbett, said that the bank believes in second chances and emphasizes with the less fortunate and the donation is a sign of this.

“Apart from our primary function to mobilize and unlend funds for the productive and social sectors that is Agriculture, Tourism, Education etc., the bank emphasizes with the less fortunate, the underprivileged and the disadvantaged as a fundamental part of its responsibility,” he said. “In the midst of diverse challenges the AID Bank believes in second chances and our presence here this morning attest to a sincere desire to assist our fallen brothers and sisters to overcome their mistakes as bad things can happen to good people.”

He mentioned that he was excited to respond to the prison’s request to support its educational and skills training program.

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7 Comments

  1. YES
    October 25, 2013

    BEB. I completely agree with you. I have a student loan from Aid Bank as well and the installments are $1200.00 a month and $119.00 for the loan insurance. From that amount the interest is $540.00. I make $2800.00 a month after tax which may seem like a lot to some but it really isn’t much. I needed to get a vehicle for my job (another loan) at a cost of $650.00 monthly. Basically my loans amount to 61% of my salary. After all of these deductions I am left with $830.00 from which I must then contribute to my parents’ home and bills and pay for gas to operate my vehicle for work. It is really tough. The sad thing is people see me on the road and think I am ‘bofa’ because I have a ‘good job’ and I have a degree but if I get sick now I have to beg on the radio stations because I cannot even afford health insurance. God only knows. I still don’t regret going to study…I at least made my parents proud. Anyway Aid Bank really should revise their interest rates. Returning students have no chance at all with their payment plans.

    • Anonymous
      October 25, 2013

      What about your mileage claim.

  2. Justice and Truth
    October 24, 2013

    Excellent initiative and gift to assist those who have fallen, to learn some skills, which may be useful to them when they are released and even while they are imprisoned. Learning a skill will assist them to look to the future with hope.
    Inmates in general must be kept busy for idleness is the devil’s playground.
    There are various reasons, each, in his/her own way, why they got into trouble and are now serving time in prison. If the sentence was not for a lifetime, they will, one day, be released. They do need assistance in order to be rehabilitated.
    One of this help is a primary one, to inform them to “look to Jesus”, Our Lord, King and Savior. When He is ignored and rejected this is when the enemy sets in and influences people to also live a lawless life. They must be good but also holy.
    Our Lord Jesus Christ said: John 15:15-5 – …Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing…”

  3. BEB
    October 24, 2013

    Its good to know that the AID Bank can come to the help of the less fortunate persons, but I’m paying over $26.000.00 for intress on a loan of $50.000.00 for a student’s loan.

    • Anonymous
      October 24, 2013

      To: BEB something is drastically wrong with your loan. What is your interest rate ,how long is it and what are your instalment payments, As far as the donation is concerned I believe it is very good thing . In fact more entities should offer this kind of assistance. there are many other groups that can use this type of assistance . If we can rehabilitate even one prisoner that would be considered progress.

      • BEB
        October 25, 2013

        Anonymous, u do not believe me!, I will outline it to u. I cant really remember what the interest rate was, I think it was about 9%,
        A loan of $50.000.00,$1000.00 for administration fees,$633.38,per month for 10 yrs.{120 months}I assume that I will be paying back to the bank an amount of $76.0055.60
        There’s nothing wrong with the bank helping the less fortunate ones but I think that they should re-consider their interest rates on student’s loans.

    • kb
      October 24, 2013

      i’m sure you were aware of the interest you would be paying before you took the loan

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