‘Many have same problems as HMP inmates’ – Hon Myron V. Walwyn
This was underscored by the Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn under whose Ministry the prisons falls as he addressed the graduation ceremony yesterday afternoon December 11, 2014 at the prison, Balsum Ghut.
The programmes were ‘Just think’, ‘Alpha for Prisons’, ‘Anger Management’, ‘House of Healing’ and ‘Substance abuse group counseling programmes.’
Stating that it is unfortunate those persons are in prison the Minister responsible said that there are many persons not in prison who have the same challenges as the inmates, “….and it is very good that you recognize that you need help and enrolled in the programme and I really really do hope that you take the lessons learnt and apply them to your everyday life.”
He also said that he had taken time to look through the brief synopsis of the programme and thanking Mr Selwyn L. Vanterpool MBE, MA, MPS, L.Th, who was the counselor at the helm of the programme Hon Walwyn said, “I am not in Her Majesty’s Prison but [I saw the way] the programmes are set up it can benefit the lives of persons who are not in Her Majesty’s Prison and so it’s a lesson for all of us and we have got to check ourselves as well…”
Admirable was the sight of Mr Yan Edwards seated to the front row of the graduation ceremony appropriately dressed seemingly very humble and actively participating in the programme and also being certified as a person under rehabilitation despite convicted for a heinous crime and serving life without the possibility of parole.
But despite their rehabilitation in the programme as inmate at the Prison Hon Walwyn said, “It is very expensive for the government to have you here because we have to feed you; we much prefer to have you outside so we can tax you.”
Suffice to say, according to the Minister it is important for the government to do all they can as they have been doing for the rehabilitation programme in an effort to help them overcome the challenges that landed them in prison in the first place.
“But of course when we do things that offend the state we all have to pay the price but at the same time while we are here we can make ourselves better persons and we ought to do that and I think this programme is designed to do just this,” he added.
“Mr Foot you have a lot of talent here; you don’t have to call me all the time for money. You can use the band… You have excellent, excellent musicians,” the Minister said. He was at the time showering praises on the members of the prison band especially Ms Shonovia Thomas and Ramon George as he congratulated the excellent vocal talents of some of the inmates.
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