A six-week course designed to equip prison inmates with essential life skills for successful reintegration into society has recently concluded with some eleven inmates at His Majesty’s Prison receiving certificates of completion for their participation.
The programme was facilitated by a team of dedicated professionals from cross section of industries who volunteered their time and expertise. It ran concurrently from March to May and included topics such as financial management, marriage and the family, money matters, spiritual wholeness, and mental health awareness.
The Reintegration Program initiative was initially launched in 2024 through the Correctional Fellowship Ministry of the New Life Baptist Church’s prison ministry and has continued to grow through meaningful partnerships with various community partners.
Some of the facilitators included Republic Bank BVI, Mrs. Norma Chalwell, Apostle Curnal Fahie, the BVI Health Services Authority (Mental Health Unit), Pastor Jovan Cline, Mrs. Angelle Cameron, Mr. Meade Malone, and Mrs. Cynthia Hodge.
Deputy Superintendent of Prisons Mr. Raymond Grant commended the ongoing partnership between the prison, faith-based organisations, and the wider community during his remarks at the ceremony, while acknowledging that while the prison operates under the Ministry of Health and Social Development, government resources alone are not sufficient to meet all the needs of the facility.
He said, “It is only through collaboration with rehabilitation-minded individuals and organisations that we can truly support the transformation and holistic development of our inmates.”
Grant also outlined several recent major developments at the state-owned facility, including the addition of a teacher and a counselor, and the introduction of new programs focused on education, personal development, and rehabilitation.