Prison Week culminates with annual concert

The annual prison concert dubbed ‘Talent behind the Walls’ brought the curtains down on what Acting Superintendent of Prisons, Duane Bailey said was “a truly remarkable week”.

The concert which showcases the talents of prison inmates was held on Sunday, December 22, 2024, at the Industrial Car park in Kingstown at the end of the week of activities held under the theme: ’Embracing Change with Joy and Renewed Hope’, that Bailey said “speaks to the heart of our work, our mission, our vision and the transformation that continues to take place behind those walls.”

Sunday’s concert saw 36 items on the programme, and the performances were well received by the huge crowd.

The week began with a church service at the Belle Isle Correctional Facility that was seen as a time for reflection, connection and spiritual renewal. This was followed by several other activities that allowed the inmates and prison staff to come together as a community, “to strengthen bonds and to celebrate the positive changes taking place within the prisons”.

Bailey noted that a major activity “was our family day, where inmates had the opportunity to spend quality time with their families and friends”. He said “these moments of connection, of shared meals, of laughter remind us all of the importance of family in the rehabilitation process. The bonds that are formed and strengthened can play a pivotal role in the reintegration of individuals into society as better, more compassionate, law-abiding citizens”.

Another of the major activities was the annual exhibition that showcased the work and talents of the inmates who are actively engaged in the prison’s rehabilitative programmes.

Bailey said, “The products and skills that they have developed are testament to their resilience, their desire for change, and their commitment to personal growth”.

“We must remember that while these individuals may be incarcerated, they are not beyond redemption, and their potential is as limitless as their determination. This week of activities has not only been a time for celebration, but also a time to reflect on the significant progress we have made as a prison department,” Bailey pointed out.

He expressed pride at the steps the institution has taken particularly in the area of security, which “is the cornerstone of our work”.

“… we understand that for any rehabilitation programme to succeed, the safety of our staff, inmates and the wider community must always come first.”

Bailey disclosed that the prisons “recently acquired two state-of-the-art drones for surveillance purposes” that would “enhance our ability to monitor our facilities and ensure a higher level of security”.

There also are plans to light the perimeter of the Belle Isle Correctional Facility “which will further boost our security measures, particularly during the night”, and to increase patrols.

The administrative function of the prisons will be relocated from Kingstown to the Belle Isle Correctional Facility early in 2025, and Bailey said this is “part of our ongoing effort to streamline operations and improve efficiency, and ensure that we are providing the best possible care and oversight for inmates and officers”.

Sunday’s prison concert marked the “end of a wonderful week” that was a celebration of the talent, resilience and hope of the prison inmates”.

“Let us carry the joy of renewed hope with the experience [of] this week into the coming months, and let us continue to work together … to build a safer, more rehabilitative, supportive environment for all. Let us continue to embrace, change with joy and leading hope,” Bailey urged.