More should be done to prevent prison inmates reoffending after they have been released, according to a government senator and election candidate.

The Reverend Emily Gail Dill, who is also the Junior Minister of National Security, said that incarceration offered a “reprieve” from the difficulties of life for some inmates.

Dr Dill is the Progressive Labour Party candidate in next month’s by-election in Sandys North.

In an interview with The Royal Gazette yesterday, Dr Dill said that she had been canvassing voters in recent weeks and found that crime stood out as a concern for many Constituency 36 residents on a national level.

Dr Dill said that those who had served a term of imprisonment needed to have “a real shake at being able to start a life anew” on their release, which could be helped by more rehabilitative programmes at Westgate.

She said: “After they’ve been incarcerated and they come out, it’s difficult for them to get a job. For some individuals, prison is a reprieve. Can you imagine — three meals a day, activities.

“What you see happening is they are scheduled to come out and all of a sudden they get into a fight. Why is that? They just want to stay longer.

“If they have to come out, they have nowhere to live, no job to go to and, in spite of the fact that they have children that need to be taken care of, that they love dearly, they know that their chances of survival are next to nil. It’s very sad.”

Dr Dill showed no sympathy for adults who had guided teenagers into a life of crime.

She said: “My prayer is that they don’t get a minute’s sleep when they think about the lives that have been lost as a result of their engaging young people in activities.”

Dr Dill, a minister at the Allen Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church in the constituency — her husband is the pastor — also denied that the Government was failing to tackle the issue of crime.

However, she added: “I think there is more that we can do and we are actively working to address some of the issues. Some of them have to do with a decline in morality in our community, for our students and our young people to understand the value of life.

The October 4 by-election was called after the resignation of government MP Kathy Lynn Simmons last month.

Dr Dill will be up against Carl Neblett of the One Bermuda Alliance, Marc Bean, the leader of the Free Democratic Movement, and independent candidate Cire Bean.

Dr Dill said that her three opponents had positive qualities but she believed she was the strongest candidate.

Explaining her reasons for standing, she said: “I’ve always been interested in the legislative process, once I understood how important it was in advancing a people.

“But what really prompted me was the frustration I was having regarding some of the things that I wanted to see happen expeditiously.

“In order to be most effective, you’ve got to be in it to win it.

“I believe that we have great candidates. All of us bring our own unique experiences and passion to the table — but I do believe that I am the best candidate. I believe that life has prepared me for this opportunity and I think I bring a wealth of experience, training, things that will help us to move things forward more quickly.

“The other thing is the fact that I’ve served in the Senate for the last 2½ years. I’ve had first-hand knowledge of some of the challenges that we’re facing as a country and I’ll be able to hit the ground running and contribute even more to the process as a Member of Parliament.”

Dr Dill said that canvassing had been “going well” and that she has been creative in reaching out to voters. She regularly rides the ferry from Somerset into Hamilton and spends the journey speaking to as many commuters as possible.

“I’m very happy to to have people on board to assist me. Trying to see 1,200 people in four weeks — it’s a lot, but I’m doing my very best.”

Dr Dill dismissed suggestions that David Burt, the Premier, had a dictatorial style of management and was becoming unpopular within the party.

She said: “Sometimes there’s a narrative that is spread but that has not been my experience with him. I have not experienced it or observed it.

“I’ve found him to be very hard-working but I’ve also found him to be very open. Whatever is coming, he shares it very openly and he invites input.”

Asked how she saw her role as the MP for Sandys North, should she be successful at the polls, Dr Dill said: “My goal will be to mobilise this community, to tap the talent that’s there and for us to work together to address the issues that are there because there are still individuals in our community that need our help.”