Prison inmates show there is more to them than crime

Good advice galore rained down on patrons at the 2018 “Talent Behind the Walls” concert of Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) last Sunday.

In their various appearances, inmates give advice ranging from, “Stay away from bad company” and “Don’t do drugs” to “Listen to your parents” and “Think before you act”.

The concert started with a prayer from Nigel Morgan followed by the national anthem played by the Police Band. Then, it was straight into the acts, as performers were introduced one by one by masters of ceremonies — prison warder Andre Tash and model prisoner Jolette LaBorde.

A section of the large crowd at the 2018 “Talent Behind the Walls” concert of Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) last Sunday.

Ava Charles, recently sentenced for murder, entertained with her song “Inspiration” after which the HMP’s male drummers, using drums made in the HMP’s vetiver grass mat and basket construction rehabilitation project, did their best to beat out meaningful chords. One of the players was Eugene Noel, of HMP’s public speaking competition fame, he having highlighted the issue of bed bugs at the detention centre.

The female choir then belted out “He still loves me” and from the shouts coming from the crowd, they were probably right. The male dancers came next with moves to die for.

One of the most entertaining performances for the evening came next, in the form of a play written by inmates Javon Samuel and Jolette LaBorde.

Samuel played a school boy who was led astray by a friend, played by Taylor Medford, with the promise of fast money through drugs.

A singer at the ‘Talent Behind the Walls’ concert puts his all into his presentation last Sunday

Despite many warnings from his parents, Samuel began dealing drugs. He met a young lady, played by Shian Forde and fell in love, but soon after, was arrested along with Medford. He left Forde pregnant and during a visit to the prison, she informed him that she was finished with him and he would never see his child.

Medford later turned evidence for the crown, and left Samuel to bear the pressure of being caught on the high seas with several kilos of cocaine. The message was — be careful of the company you keep as sometimes “friends does carry yo but them don’t bring yo back”.

A medley by Sydney McDowall addressing the HMP and the Rock Gutter tragedy was also well received while Gillian Charles with her strong rendition of Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best” was a crowd favourite.

This group of drummers was trained by Nzimbu Browne. The drums were procured with funds raised from the sale of vertiver grass mats and baskets made as part of a project taking place at Her Majesty’s Prisons.

Eugene Noel, who last week created outrage on social media because of his participation in the public speaking competition, created more outrage on Facebook on Sunday night because of his participation in the concert.

Or maybe it wasn’t his participation, but his song of choice: “I can’t wait”. Two weeks ago, he was sentenced to 30 years in jail for unlawful sexual intercouse with a 12 year old girl. The song he sang is about not being able to wait to be united with a lover.

Another positive vibe came from Rueben Robinson’s song “Say no”. “If you want to live your life good and healthy, don’t smoke no coke, weed or sensi”, Robinson sang.

In one performance, Javon Samuel teamed up with panist Rodney Small for a rendition of a song called “Sauce” while in another, a group calling itself “Colonel Thorpe and Friends” did a remake of “Rivers of Babylon”, naming it “Prison of Babylon”.

Another entertaining performance came from Alana Hudson and Taylor Medford who remade Fimba Jardine’s “Funky Business”, giving the crowd “Tunkey Business”, which sent them into a frenzy. “Tunkey” is another word for prison warder.

“Empty yo shoes, way da be? Yo selling crack, I hear you get a letter, from a plait hair man…mind yo tunkey business, leave we alone, leh we do we time and go home,” part of the song advised.

“Them tunkey up inna we business, up inna we business. Why yo searching we, every minute squat and cough, mind yo tunkey business, with all yo tunkey fastness.

“Well I duh care about them tunkey in here, everyday they treat we unfair, yo do good them never see, yo do bad them always hear, them never had anything good to write…,” another part went, sending the crowd into a loud cheer and asking for an encore.

Sydney McDowall performing a medley of songs

Other performances came from Nigel Byron, Lenron George, Saville Thomas and Ivan Ragguette.

Addressing the gathering, former Minister of Education Girlyn Miguel said that it was good that so many persons turned out to the concert.

“Coming here is saying I love you, you are useful to society and you must not give up,” said Miguel.

The concert was also used to recognize the winners of the prison’s public speaking competition.

Soca artiste Rondy “Luta” McIntosh made a guest appearance.