HMP inmates to receive auto mechanics training

Three businessmen involved in the local auto mechanic industry have decided to share their knowledge and skills with inmates at Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP).

Last Friday, the trio, Elton Bailey of Cash Money Investments, Carl Samuel of KRJ Auto (Campden Park) and Steve Oliver of Steve’s Mechanic Shop (Cane Hall) launched the HMP’s auto mechanic programme at the prison on White Chapel Road.

The programme is the brainchild of Bailey and will see Samuel and Oliver, two seasoned mechanics, working with 20 inmates at the prisons, four days a week, with the aim of these inmates becoming full fledged mechanics.

The programme is part of the HMP’s rehabilitation project.

Speaking at the launch last Friday, March 9, Superintendent of Prisons Brenton Charles described the project as “special to the HMP”.

He said that rehabilitation must always be top on HMP’s agenda.

“We shouldn’t leave home without the idea that we are coming today to help to change somebody’s life. We have many misguided young men and women, who made very bad choices. I don’t think any one of them would have set out on any day to say their mission is coming to prison. They made mistakes, for the most part, and they come to meet us, and the system sends them to us so that we can make some impact on their life,” said Charles, praising the programme.

The superintendent said that to get the programme running, Bailey donated, among other things, two tool kits, a jack, oils and other products, while Samuel donated two tool kits.

Charles also noted that there are 463 inmates at HMP and many of them wanted to get involved with the auto mechanics programme.

“Persons usually pay a lot of money for a course like this and you are getting it free, so take advantage of it…. I don’t want you to waste their time at all. I would be very disappointed, and I would be very hard too, if I were to be told that these gentlemen come to give to us and that our people are being rude and disrespectful to them,” warned Charles.

The programme will run on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and the HMP is working with the Ministry of Education and the Division of Technical and Vocational Education of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College to have the programme certified and recognized.

Commenting, Bailey said that he hopes the programme can go on for many years.

“We are committed to dedicating the time and resources….We have started with the intention of people leaving here with knowledge of mechanical repair. The only result we looking for is success,” said Bailey, who told the participants that they can easily gain employment once they have knowledge of engines. 

He is hoping that in the future, the workshop can offer automechanic services to the public. Bailey is also hoping to provide tool kits for every inmate. so that on completion of the programme and on leaving prison, they can be equipped.

Also giving remarks at the event were facilitators Oliver and Samuel, as well as inmates Atiba Bess and Tedford Baptiste.

The auto mechanics programme is one aspect of the HMP’s rehabilitation drive. There is a plumbing programme, run by John Cambridge, a craft programme, run by Vonnie Roudette, a cooking programme, run by Alvin Jackson and a carpentry programme.  

A member of the HMP rehabilitation team, senior prison officer Edson Matthias, said that prison provides offenders with the opportunity to reflect on their crime and at the HMP, they want to provide them with an opportunity to become law-abiding citizens.

“We are determined to ensure that prison can help rehabilitate and this is a very good gesture to have persons come and support the programme. We feel glad that so many inmates have come forward for the programme,” said Matthias.(LC)