Africa-Press – Angola. At least 1044 personnel from the Special Security and Intervention Unit (UESI) of the Penitentiary Services completed this Tuesday the Tenth Security Specialization course at the “Maria Teresa” Military Training Center, in the province of Icolo e Bengo.
The ceremony was presided over by the minister of the Interior, Manuel Homem, and was part of the festivities for the 47th anniversary of this institution, celebrated on March 20th.
During his speech, the minister highlighted the professionalism and sense of duty that the personnel have dedicated to the mission of rehabilitation and resocialization of citizens in conflict with the law and the execution of custodial measures imposed by judicial entities.
He emphasized the joint initiative between the penitentiary service and the Rapid Intervention Police Command, for the spirit of cooperation, unity, complementarity and deepening of institutional relations between the organs of the Ministry of the Interior.
The minister emphasized that prisons have very peculiar characteristics, making their security indispensable, with properly trained staff equipped with techniques to maintain order and vigilance commensurate with the challenges that the mission imposes, in order to prevent escapes or disruption of penal order.
In turn, the Director-General of the Penitentiary Service, Chief Prison Commissioner Bernardo do Amaral Gourgel, stated that the trainees from various provincial directorates will alleviate the staff shortage in some prison establishments.
He considered that the moment represents the beginning of a demanding, noble mission with a great social impact, in which each of the trainees undertakes the commitment to actively contribute to maintaining order and security in penitentiary establishments throughout the country.
For their part, the trainees guarantee to do everything to put into practice the techniques acquired during the course. At the ceremony, some officers were promoted to the rank of first-class prison officers.
On the fringes of this activity, minister Manuel Homem provided the Provincial Fire Department Command in the municipality of Catete with various means of transport to support the delegations of the Ministry of the Interior in the province of Icolo e Bengo.
