Prison applicants whittled down for fitness test
Prison Director Neil Lavis demonstrates push-ups
(CNS): A group of 64 potential recruits for HM Cayman Islands Prison Service took part in the fitness test stage of the recruitment process on Saturday, hoping to land one of seven entry-level jobs on offer at the local jailhouse. After a written test last week, the original pool of 128 applicants was slashed in half and just the 64 would-be recruits that passed the first hurdle moved on to the physical stage. The test took place at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex, where applicants took part in four different exercises.
To pass the test and move on to the interview stage, hopeful recruits had to run a mile in less than ten minutes, complete 30 push-ups and 30 sit-ups, both in a minute, as well as complete a timed agility test on the field.
“The exercises are challenging, but they are designed to test the strength, agility and endurance of each individual, which are extremely important qualities for prison officers,” Prison Director Neil Lavis said, noting that being physically fit is a vital part of the job. He said that officers played “a fundamental part in maintaining the safety and well-being of offenders” and that they were also “responsible for supervising inmates, keeping order and dealing with individuals who could often be violent.
The applicants who successfully completed the fitness test will be interviewed by prison service leaders during the first week of November.
The prison service has a considerably lower recruitment rate among locals than most of the other uniformed branches of government, such as immigration, the fire service and customs, but the prison has been trying to attract Caymanian applicants. At the start of this recruitment process there were 35 Caymanians in the running for the seven jobs but officials have not said how many local applicants failed either the written or the physical tests.
Category: Jobs, Local News, Prison
Blimey, this is pretty tough stuff – it’s almost as if they are being prepared to chase down escapees, for crying out loud. Doesn’t exactly foster the public’s confidence in keeping those inmates caged, does it?
Come on, lets stop the entitlement attitude and simply do your part to pass the test if you want the job. Everyone has certain levels of strength, agility and endurance, but the question is do you have the amount of strength, agility and endurance for this job? The applicants whether you are Caymanian, Jamaican, Cuban, English, Syrian, etc. you better have what it takes to do the job or you simply don’t get the job.If we simply take the wise words of philosopher Herbert Spencer “Survival of the Fittest”. Be fit to do the job and you will get the job! BTW this is no different when it comes to running a household, raising children, and just being a law abiding citizen. GET FIT, BE FIT, STAY FIT!
Keep up the good work Mr. Lavis, I know you want nothing more than to help people and those who know you will know that. Those who don’t will learn or simply deny the truth.
why is the physical fitness test not the last stage here?
Subject to overall medical issues any candidate can ‘get fit’ before taking up the role if they pass the other stuff. I hope we don’t lose a potentially excellent Officer just because they are presently out of shape.
Run Forest Run!
I wonder how many police officers could pass this fitness test?.
Or Firemen!!!
All hog wash. Only country I know that you go through so much for a job. When you see the officers that work there you ask did they pass those tests?
Its un fair and bias. These jobs should be easier to get. This is the 21st Century! Wake up.
So true! As a Caymanian it is my bert right not to fill out application forms, go through the interview process or even apply myself at work.
Absolutely: just give me the job! These nasty expats are taking over everything with their world class education, communication skills and general “I am qualified to do the job” attitude! How dare they!
Chaa . First of all Stop mocking Caymanians. Secondly I hope you wake up talking like that and hate yourself every minute the same way that you hate Caymanians. Bigot.
Calm down, Bigot. It was only a joke.
Are you one of the people who failed the written test?
No I did not. I am Already in a job that I applied and qualified for. As Expats and I know the comments are from US. Talk less. Starting to come off really stupid on this site.
I don’t think collecting the shopping carts at Kirks was the previous work experience they were looking for. Don’t worry, there will be more opportunities in the future.
Well, the interesting use of capital letters and grammar probably doesn’t help you avoid looking stupid.
So rather than having people better themselves to get the job, we should lower the standards and make the job easier to get….sounds legit.
And then wonder how they got away…..
Actually the country I come from would require 2-3 years of college in law enforcement in order to even apply for the position. To become a fireman you must pass tests and fitness tests much more intense then that. Your safety and the safety of the inmates is at stake. I applied for a position as an Intern at a mental health facility in Canada and part of the interview process was to see a psychologist with some really interesting questions.
Is that the reason you are here because the qualifications in your land was too much and you couldn’t foolbthose over there so you come here and fool us who believe that any expat is the end all and b all in our work force!!!
Allar you are right on. Did he say he applied for a position as an inmate in a mental health facility.
No Actually. I moved on from that…went back to school and successfully became one of the top technicians in my field. I am here because you need me and because I love the climate. I could work anywhere in the world I please…Education and hard work is the key my friend.
lol cayman was here before you as I can recall……you need cayman.
oh no…another cyber bully in Cayman….who would have thought with the CaymanKind thing and all.
But this is the only country you know…