Ten inmates of Her Majesty's Prison Balsum Ghut, Tortola, VI graduated from the Partnership for Peace programme today August 29, 2014. Photo: VINO

Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn was also on the ground to congratulate and further challenge the inmates to use what they have learnt and the time behind bars to make them better citizens whenever they return to open society. Photo: VINO

“You have my respect for what you have done and what you have achieved and I hope it take you forward,” said Superintendent of Her Majesty’s Prison Mr David Foot. Photo: VINO

“The men were especially touched that their behavior impact their children and they put those two together in these sessions and it was an amazing thing to see them now saying to themselves I don’t want my children’s lives to be what my life was,” said Ms Conner. Photo: VINO

Her Majesty's Prison's inmates proudly hold their certificate as testimony of completing anger management programme the the Prison's Partnership for peace programme. Photo: VINO

An inmate receiving his certificate from Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn. Photo: VINO

They were taught the skills for addressing conflicts and responding to stress among others. Photo: VINO

Some of the other objectives of the programme were to help participants stop violence in their lives, to help them realize that violence is a choice, to encourage them to evaluate where their violent behaviour originated. Photo: VINO

Superintendent of Her Majesty’s Prisons, Mr David Foot at the closing ceremony underscored his respect for the inmates who completed the training. Photo: VINO

“From my focus discussion I went home reflecting on some of the things that they said to us and they got real with us in those sessions,” said Coordinator, Office of Gender Affairs Ms Lorolie Conner at the closing ceremony earlier today August 29, 2014. Photo: VINO

Another proud graduate of the programme. Photo: VINO

“Ladies and gentlemen the ten men who went through this programme met the ten goals. From my focus discussion I went home reflecting on some of the things that they said to us and they got real with us in those sessions,” said Coordinator, Office of Gender Affairs Ms Lorolie Conner at the closing ceremony earlier today.

Some of the other objectives of the programme were to help participants stop violence in their lives, to help them realize that violence is a choice, to encourage them to evaluate where their violent behaviour originated. The latter was said to have been one of the most emotional sessions as the participants had to go through the process of internalizing.

“They had to dig deep and figure out where some of the concepts and behaviours were coming from,” said Ms Conner.

She also said that they focus on the cost of violence to themselves, partners, children and society in general.

“The men were especially touched that their behavior impact their children and they put those two together in these sessions and it was an amazing thing to see them now saying to themselves I don’t want my children’s lives to be what my life was,” said Ms Conner.

They were taught the skills for addressing conflicts and responding to stress among others. “One of the points they brought out last night is ‘we have a new respect for women’…. Last night they called themselves brothers because of the things they shared throughout the sixteen weeks,” she also stated.

Superintendent of Her Majesty’s Prison, Mr David Foot at the closing ceremony underscored his respect for the inmates who completed the training. “You have my respect for what you have done and what you have achieved and I hope it take you forward,” he said while with fingers crossed he said that the Parole Act which should be in place by the end of this year will come in handy should they put what was taught into action.

Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn was also on the ground to congratulate and further challenge the inmates to use what they have learnt and the time behind bars to make them better citizens whenever they return to open society.