Fourteen inmates, nine males and five females, from His Majesty’s Prison have successfully completed the first-ever Life Skills Reintegration Programme (LSRP). The six-week course, a joint venture between His Majesty’s Prison, New Life Baptist Church Correction Fellowship, and the Righteous Invasion of Truth (RIOT) Ministry, focused on addressing reoffending behaviours and other crucial issues such as marital enrichment, finance, mental health, spiritual growth, and education.
During the certification ceremony, Deputy Superintendent Mr. Raymond Grant expressed his enthusiasm for the programme and its impact on the inmates. “I am delighted to see the collective efforts of both public and private entities in assisting the prison with rehabilitation programmes for inmates,” he said. “The introduction of the Life Skills Reintegration Programme (LSRP) is in addition to our existing Anger Management, Skills for Life, Counselling, and rehabilitation debate activities.”
Mr. Grant emphasized that a significant benefit of the reintegration programme is that it allows external agencies, departments, and facilitators into the prison as part of its “through the gate” initiative, which aims to strengthen rehabilitation links and improve the transition into society. He added that moving back into society is one of the critical aspects of prison reform.
“Often, when inmates return to the community, they face stigma and a lack of tangible support,” Mr. Grant said. “I am pleased that through this programme, they can earn a certificate that serves as evidence of their efforts to progress and become better versions of themselves. Well done and thank you to everyone involved in this critical work.”
The courses were facilitated by representatives from various organizations, including the National Bank of the Virgin Islands, MWM Finance, the Deputy Governor’s Office, Mrs. Sharifa Smith, Mrs. Shaina Smith-Archer, Pastor Collin Gunthorpe, Pastor Mitchell Glaze, Dr. June Samuels, and Dr. Albert Tomkins.
