The Delegate of the Government, Sabrina Moh, dedicated her speech today, on the occasion of the celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Mercy, to recognize the work and selflessness of the officials working in the penitentiary center of Melilla.
“I would like to publicly thank you for your commitment, dedication, responsibility and vocation of service”, he said while praising “a work carried out with a professionalism worthy of praise”.
“It is an honor for me to be able to represent the Government of Spain in an act like this in which we are going to pay tribute to a group of professionals who dedicate their lives to providing such an important service for our society and who give their best to do so with great professionalism,” he acknowledged in his first words.
One task, the highest representative of the Government of Spain in our city has made clear, “which you tend to carry out silently, quietly, and sometimes even questioned.” What’s more, “a job that is sometimes unknown, but essential and necessary,” he said.
In fact, Moh has recognized that this is “an effort that sometimes goes unnoticed”, so he has highlighted the need to carry out celebrations such as those of today “that not only allow us to value your work, but also make it visible to the citizens who are the main beneficiaries of your effort”.
The head of the Government Delegation in Melilla, who recalled the constitutional mandate that custodial sentences should be aimed at re-education and social reintegration, pointed out that it is the women and men who provide services in penitentiary institutions, “those who, with your efforts, give meaning to this article”.
In her speech, the Delegate addressed herself to the officials of this institution: “Each one of you constitutes a necessary link to form that human chain that you have built throughout all this time, so in celebrating this anniversary, I would like to value, one more year, the work that you carry out the women and men who have decided to dedicate your life to helping other people and give meaning to Article 25.2 of the Constitution.”
Balance and reflection
Moh, who pointed out that recognizing the work and selflessness of all the officials who work in these centers “is an obligation that we must have as a society”, has pointed out that acts such as today’s, must also serve to take stock and reflect on the actions carried out and to continue bringing the institutions closer to the citizens and that society feels the commitment of this service.
The Delegate recalled that the penitentiary centre is now 29 years old and currently houses 164 inmates. A journey for which “it has needed all the people you are and who have been part of this template to write your story”, so he has had a few words of remembrance for Juan Creus, who has passed away this year, at the same time he has sent his love to his family and loved ones.
But he has also had some words for the new additions that are integrating the system and that, together with those who hold positions of responsibility in the institutions, “we have the obligation to continue caring for and protecting the legacy that previous generations have been building so I want you to know that you will continue to count on our commitment to continue working on this path of improvement.”
And one more year Sabrina Moh has also highlighted the absence of relevant incidents, which continues to allow a greater degree of security inside the center and a better coexistence of the inmates.
“A calm atmosphere of harmony that has made this center an exemplary place and that is due to the great doses of professionalism, but also humanity, understanding, empathy and generosity that you show towards people who for various reasons have violated the law and are therefore deprived of freedom,” he said.
Society recognition
The Delegate ended her speech by reiterating to the professionals of the penitentiary center that they are a clear example of commitment to public service and that during all this time “you have been working without any obstacle preventing you from responding to the demands that you have had to face on a daily basis”.
Something that, he said, they have done “effectively and efficiently and no matter under what circumstances it was necessary to do it”, so “you must feel proud and proud of your work”. So he has urged them to feel that, in today’s act, “recognition not only of the people here present, but of society at large.”
Moh has invited everyone to continue working, “with the same dedication as hitherto and with the tranquility of knowing that, in this journey, you will always have the encouragement and support of the whole society” and on behalf of the Government of Spain, the Minister of the Interior and on his own behalf, he has congratulated everyone for this celebration on Merced Day.