BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Rehabilitation Group Impression (RGI) Band of Her Majesty’s Prison was the recipient of two guitars which were donated by an individual through the Department of Culture.
SKNVibes understands that the instruments were donated by Chuck Fox who requested that they be given to someone or individuals who would put them to good and positive use.
Yesterday (Sept. 25), as part of the Department of Culture’s 2015 National Arts Festival entitled “Pot-pourri”, Ambassador and Special Envoy in the Ministry of Sports and Culture His Excellency Jonel Powell presented the guitars to Alton Liburd, Chief Prison Officer of Her Majesty’s Prison.
Liburd expressed thanks for the donation and indicated that they would be put to good use.
SKNVibes was informed that RGI consists of 10 inmates of Her Majesty’s Prison and four others who were once incarcerate at the penal institution. It features a keyboardist, a drummer, a trumpeter, a lead guitarist, a bassist and a number of lead and or back-up vocalists.
Lead vocalist Alford Nisbett, who informed that he teaches music theory and piano, told SKNVibes that the instruments would be used as part of the rehabilitative process.
“We got two stellar guitars, they look like they are high quality instruments. I teach music in the prison so they will be put to good use, whether by beginners or people who are advanced in the guitar art.
“Inside the prison is a very unique place! It is an artificial environment and where we stand it is very frustrating for the human mind also the body, but more so on the mind. And for you to occupy it causes peace and serenity and that’s just what we are trying to achieve in prisoners.
“There are many violent offenders within the prison and we are trying to give them a chance to see some kind of change or some kind of light.Not everybody is going to be a banker or a teller, but people appreciate music and within it we find no discrimination and we tend to push it like that.”
Ambassador Powell told this publication that he is in total agreement with the Department of Culture’s decision to hand the instruments over to the prison band.
“I agree wholeheartedly with the Department of Culture in giving them to RBI and the prison for the further development of that particular band. We are fast to judge and criticise when these guys get in trouble. At the same time, we should be the first on the scene when they do something positive. This is just rehabilitation which has the capacity to inspire and is inspiring people who are looking on.”
The mini concert hosted by RGI following the presentation was also part of the Department of Culture’s 2015 National Arts Festival.
