Over 110 inmates at Her Majesty’s Prison Northward received commendations for showing personal initiative during the fourth Annual Prisoner Recognition Day, held last Friday, 28 November, 2014.

Those prisoners recognised had taken part in rehabilitative offerings at the prison, including vocational training, work activities, chaplaincy, and individual and group intervention programmes.

Ten of the prisoners received special awards for outstanding achievement, having successfully completed four or more of these programmes. Gifts certificates were donated by Book Nook and Foster’s Food Fair.

Outlining efforts at both the Northward and Fairbanks prisons, the officials said that this year 15 programmes were offered – from IT, Maths, English, Parenting Education and Drug Abuse Prevention to Employability Skills and Anger Management. Training was also offered in several crafts and vocational pursuits.

Supporting agencies, non-profit organisations and volunteers also received acknowledgement at the event: The National Drug Council, Department of Community Rehabilitation, Government Information Services, Family Resource Centre , National Workforce Development Agency, Department of Children & Family Services, National Gallery, Rehoboth Ministries, Cayman 1,000 Man March, Feed Our Future, Cayman Islands Red Cross, Cayman Islands Reading Aides, Rotary Sunrise, Savannah United Church Girls Brigade and the Parole Commissioners Board.

Community service has also become an integral part of the rehabilitation and work-preparation process. Inmates who qualified, based on risk level, behaviour and skills were allowed to undertake work within the prison compounds, or to go outside the prison for community work – with some undertaking paid employment.

Mrs. Joanne Vaughan, Policy Officer with the Governor’s Office, congratulated those involved in the programmes. She stated that everyone needs to be involved in meaningful activities in order to have self-worth and pride, and added that this also facilitated employment.

Ms Vaughan also helped to present inmates’ certificates, as did representatives of partner agencies.

Speaking at Friday’s event, Prison Director Neil Lavis said, “I’m proud to be a part of a prison that is changing its approach to rehabilitation.” He emphasised that a collaborative approach is crucial, and looked forward to more partnerships with the private sector.

Remarks delivered on behalf of Deputy Director, Rehabilitation, Aduke Joseph-Caesar, spoke of the benefits that rehabilitative privileges afforded prisoners, and of the related anxieties that they faced in the process of change.

Prisoners may benefit from the privilege or special right to programmes, where they learn new skills to address their thoughts, beliefs and the attitudes which lead to their offending behaviours.

Uncovering stressors and recognising that they need to change (and also that they created victims along the way) has caused some anxiety for them, has caused some of them to begin thinking – realising that they maybe do not like the picture in the mirror – they are Ms Joseph-Caesar’s message stated: “…Forced to look inward – they now know better – they become anxious; wondering if they can make the change, or if they have the will to. With these revelations, there is little opportunity to fool themselves anymore as they either aspire to be better, make the change or struggle to hold on to their old ways.”

Urging inmates to look inward, to recognise their duty to society and to seek to exercise still more personal responsibility, she added that they ‘should be appreciative for the opportunities given, which would in turn allow an anxiety-free life for all concerned’.

Ministry of Home Affairs Deputy Chief Officer Kathryn Dinspel-Powell said her office is dedicated to continuing the programmes underway, and to expanding on the “good work” that has been carried out so far.

Credits: Information Officer Lennon Christian

1 Mrs. Joanne Vaughn, of the Governor’s Office, hands out certificates.

2 Volunteer Tommy Ebanks presents on behalf of the Cayman 1,000 Man March Committee.

3 Deputy Director Daniel Greaves with representatives of some agencies involved in prison rehabilitation activities.

4 The afternoon included entertainment by the prisoners.