Prisoners in Anguilla are being trained in ceramics and pottery as part of a continued programme to have them gainfully occupied. The three-week training was organised by the Anguilla Development Board through its Small Enterprise Development Unit (SEDU) with sponsorship by the Social Security Board.

Patrick Hall, Conrad Gumbs and Wilma Vanterpool

Wilma Vanterpool of SEDU said the aim of the two-phase workshop is to help Government rehabilitate prisoners who are interested in various aspects of craftwork so that they may be able to fit back in society with certain skills. The first phase is being conducted by Patrick Hall, a craftsman of Jamaica.

She expressed thanks to the Social Security Board for its sponsorship and the Caribbean Development Bank, through the Caribbean Technological Consultancy Services, for also funding the services of Mr. Hall to conduct the workshop.

Mrs. Vanterpool said that on completion of the first workshop another trainer would be recruited from St. Lucia to conduct the second.

Prison Superintendent Conrad Gumbs said: “We want to move away from the old system of imprisonment where the prison was used just as a place to hold offenders of the law. What we are embarking on is to encourage inmates to get involved in worthwhile projects and to encourage them to rehabilitate themselves.”

He said there was a high rate of over 50 percent of prisoners who were returning to the cells ever so often and the prison officials would like to see that reduced especially among young offenders.

“This is our third project for January 2008,” he explained. “We have computer and steel band classes going on, the current pottery workshop and we are looking for more projects in order to keep our prisoners occupied. We believe if we occupy the prisoners’ mind with positive things, it will help them to move away from the negativity that they have while in prison. It will take away the boredom in the prison.”

Mr. Gumbs was grateful to all who made the workshop possible and he said that a number of prisoners had shown much interest in the craft work.

Mr. Hall said it was the fifth time he had been in Anguilla and that the workshop would be a relaxing experience for the prisoners and would make them think positively. “The minute you start working with the clay and you create something, you feel good about yourself,” he said.

Eight prisoners are participating in the first workshop.

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