Westgate inmates were reunited with their children on Father's Day at a barbeque and family fun day.

As part of Premier Dr. Ewart Brown's Year of the Family, prison staff arranged the event as an incentive to rehabilitation.

Senator David Burch, Minister of Public Safety, told the Senate the initiative was such "an unqualified success" he is now in talks with the Commissioner of Corrections about staging other events and expanding the day release programme.

Sen. Burch said he approved the request for the event after an approach by the Commissioner, Lieutenant Colonel Edward J. Lamb.

"The concept of the event stemmed from wanting to provide the inmates and their children with a day atypical of those constrained visitations," said Sen. Burch.

"We wanted to provide an event for inmates and their children outside the confines of the Westgate walls that would encourage dialogue and physical interaction. Those milestone-making moments are not possible during a prison visit."

Held outside of the correctional facility, at Malabar Field between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., inmates had to meet a criteria of being drug-free; having no pending adjudications; exhibiting good behaviour; and being housed in a minimum security unit.

A total of 22 men were joined by 60 family members. An official photographer took photographs for those present, and families enjoyed hayrides, races, fun castles, six-a-side football, plus non-alcoholic drinks.

Sen. Burch said: "Security for the event was provided by Correction officers from all three facilities and the Transitional Learning Centre, who all volunteered to assist.

"Senior officers at Westgate thoroughly briefed the inmates on what was expected of them.

"Commissioner Lamb also reinforced the aim of this event — to engender closer bonds between them and their children; which is a vital part of the Commissioner's vision for rehabilitating the 'whole village'."

Sen. Burch said the event passed "without incident" and that many inmates had expressed "their thanks and gratitude for this initiative".

He told the Senate: "I, like the Commissioner, am convinced that events of this nature are hugely beneficial in giving inmates an opportunity to repair some of the damage they have done to their respective families as a result of their poor choices in the past.

"The inmates' response to this opportunity was overwhelmingly positive and clearly reinforces our plans to introduce more of these activities so that inmates can ultimately return to society with a resolve not to return to prison.

"Clearly something entirely positive was begun on Saturday but we cannot let it end there. There is definitely unlimited potential in these types of initiatives and I have already had preliminary discussions with the Commissioner about dramatically expanding the day release programme, the remuneration that inmates can earn while incarcerated so that they can financially contribute to their responsibilities."

Sen. Burch said: "This event provided inmates with a taste of life after prison and what they can do with their children following incarceration. Inmates saw how having a clean record allowed them to participate in this event. Undoubtedly, many will strive to keep their records clean so that they are able to participate in the next event.

"This is an area where public perception is mostly negative and events such as this counter that perception."