From left, Chief Justice Alexandro Castro, Gov. Arnold Palacios, Adiline Torres, her husband Corrections Commissioner Anthony Torres, Lt. Gov. David Apatang, Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja and Rep. Edwin Propst pose for a photo during the CNMI Correctional Officers and Employees Week proclamation signing ceremony on Monday.
REPRESENTATIVE Edwin Propst said the men and women of the Department of Corrections deserve higher pay.
Propst was the guest speaker at the CNMI Correctional Officers and Employees Week proclamation signing ceremony at the Vicente Taman Seman Memorial Building in Susupe on Monday, May 8.
“You are a vital part of law enforcement, and have taken on an extremely stressful career — a career that studies have shown to cause anxiety, depression, PTSD, and serious health problems,” Propst said. “Careers should not diminish your mental and physical well-being. Careers should help foster professional growth and self-worth, and bring pride and dignity through accomplishment.”
According to Propst, Corrections officers “should all stand tall and proud for your highly needed and valued work, but in order to make this happen, we, too, in the executive and legislative branches must do our part in ensuring you are not just recognized one week of each year, but throughout the entire year. We can begin to do this by compensating you better, so that you no longer have to depend on crazy overtime hours just to feed your family.”
Propst said the men and women at Corrections are essential workers “who still report to work during catastrophic events, during pandemics and super typhoons, and even in the event of a government shutdown. Without you, we have no Department of Corrections and no one to safeguard our society.”
Propst called on all elected officials to “work together” and provide Corrections and all law enforcement officers with “salaries that are commensurate with their experience and qualifications, and comparable to that of their colleagues in the mainland.”
“We can do this. We must do this,” he added.
“We must continue to prioritize the safety and security of our Corrections facility, while also focusing on rehabilitation and reentry. We must work to ensure that those who are incarcerated have access to educational and vocational training, as well as mental health and substance abuse treatment. And we must continue to explore new and innovative ways to support successful reentry, such as through the use of technology and community partnerships,” Propst said.
The Department of Corrections, he added, has a “great leader with tremendous experience and credentials,” referring to Commissioner Anthony Torres.
“But he can’t do this alone. He needs our support,” Propst said.
