Wednesday, September 17, 2014 - Four inmates from Her Majesty’s Prison participated in a worship service at the New Life Baptist Church last weekend as part of ongoing rehabilitation efforts at the penal institution.
Inmates Ramon George, Sylon Forbes, Courtney ‘Kamal’ Meade and Kenvil Pope attended the (NLBC) on September 14 and performed two original compositions, “Love You More and More’ and “Hold On”.
Both selections were composed at the recently established Blacksmith’s Music Studio while incarcerated at the Her Majesty’s Prison.
Minister Henderson Tittle, who coordinates the New Life Baptist Church Correctional Fellowship Ministries and works with “Righteous Invaders of Truth, another arm of the NLBC Prison Ministries, revealed that Bishop John Cline during a visit to the prison, was informed by one of the inmates of the need to have a facility whereby they can practice and play music.
Meanwhile, Bishop Cline shared that the men at the Prison have been having an encounter with God. He revealed that Kevin Sweeney, who has since been released, approached him over a year ago with a proposal for a music programme at the Prison.
“They want to build a music studio to train some of the inmates to play music as some of them are very, skilled musicians themselves.” He noted
Bishop Cline when on to add, “While in there God is working on them and changing their lives and changing their music. They have asked me and the New Life Baptist Church for assistance, and the request was further extended in the community and to other churches, to help build this music studio.”
Rehabilitation Manager Mario Christopher pointed out that since Bishop Cline and the New Life Baptist Church were the individuals sponsoring the Music Studio, the Prison found it fitting to allow the young men to show the church their talent. He also noted that the support the church is giving will not be wasted.
Christopher added that it is also very important for the men to be exposed to the warmth and fellowship that the church offers as this provides a spiritual element, essential for their growth. “They can now come here, feel the warmth, go back and fellowship with other inmates. It is truly inspirational,” Christopher said.
Both songs were written by Kenvil Pope, and performed by both Pope and Ramon George. The music was arranged and mixed by George and Courtney ‘Kamal’ Meade and keyboards were played by Sylon Forbes.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Education and Culture contracted Lesa and Lewis Edwards of Edwards Consulting to create a Rehabilitation Programme for the Prison. The Edwards’ also developed a five year strategic plan and the standard operating procedures which govern the management of the Prison.
Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn in a June 2014 sitting of the House said, “We must understand that incarceration carries the responsibility of offender rehabilitation. It’s a responsibility we take seriously. The men and women who have made bad choices that landed them in prison still deserve to be treated as human beings. And that means making sure they are given the rehabilitation training and education that will allow them to make better choices when they leave.”
Her Majesty’s Prison continues to contribute to the Virgin Islands by providing a safe and effective prison system, which offers opportunities for rehabilitation, reintegration and community engagement in order to reduce re-offending.
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British Virgin Islands News