#Kingston, April 5, 2019 – Jamaica – The rehabilitation programme at the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre in Spanish Town is providing inmates with a second chance at life.
Through academic and vocational training, recreational
programmes and other interventions, the inmates are
being equipped with viable skills and qualifications that they can apply, once they
have completed their sentences, thereby enabling them to redirect their path
and secure a better future.
“We try to find programmes to engage these
inmates,” Senior Superintendent in charge of the facility, Herbert McFarlane,
tells JIS News.
“Our aim is to rehabilitate them, so that
when they go back to society, they become more worthwhile citizens and do not
return to a life of crime,” he notes.
Senior Superintendent McFarlane, who has
served the correctional system for over 40 years, says that the rehabilitation programme
has made a difference in reforming persons who have found themselves on the
wrong side of the law. He is
particularly pleased about the educational achievements of the inmates. “When I
took over, the school was the first place that I refurbished. That tells you my
value on education,” he notes.
At the school, some 160 inmates are currently
benefiting from classes ranging from
basic literacy and numeracy to preparing them to sit the Caribbean
Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.
These classes have produced good results over
the years with some persons earning up to nine subjects. One
former inmate, who recently left the facility, is now a student at a
tertiary institution.
In addition to academics, the inmates are
engaged in skills training in areas such as tailoring, furniture and sauce
making, automotive work, as well as broadcasting through the operation of an internal
radio station.
With the skills learnt, the inmates are able
to contribute to the upkeep of the correctional centre and also give back to
society.
Recently, the St. Michelle’s Primary School and the St. Simon’s
Primary and Infant School in Clarendon benefited from 26 handcrafted
combination desk and chair sets that were made by the inmates.
The donation was made under the Direct
Result of Inmates’ Value and Empowerment (DRIVE) programme, through which the inmates
are provided opportunities to give back to communities in areas such as
agriculture, woodwork and roadworks, as well as bushing, painting and general
repairs to buildings.
There is also a tailoring establishment where
uniforms are made for correctional officers and prisoners.
“We have a
welding shop that takes care of all the welding work such as repairs to grills
and bars,” Senior
Superintendent McFarlane tells JIS News.
The inmates are also engaged in income-generating projects
such as baking and sauce making, and there is a booming
agricultural programme. The products are sold, supplied to other correctional
institutions or used to supplement meals.
A portion of the funds generated goes to the inmates, with the
majority going into the operation of the prison, thereby reducing costs. The institution
copped the first-place prize in 2017 in the Jamaica 4-H Clubs Home Gardening
competition, and placed second during the 2018 showing.
Senior Superintendent McFarlane tells
JIS News that the correctional
institution is moving to supply supermarkets and has engaged the Scientific
Research Council (SRC) in ensuring quality standards and to assist with labelling
and packaging.
“We are building on existing skills,” says
Community Development Coordinator at the SRC, Yanique Rodgers.
“The products that they are making are at a very
high standard, very good quality, so we want to help them to make the products
in such a way that they can be easily commercialised,” she tells JIS News.
She notes that the sauces can be exported, and the
labelling and packaging are attractive.
“So, we are very impressed with what they are
doing with the small amount of resources that they have. They have done a very
good job,” she adds.
Ms. Rodgers says with the support being provided
by the SRC, the inmates will be able to seek employment or start business
ventures.
In addition to the education and skills
training, the inmates are also engaged in recreational
activities, such as an annual football competition, domino tournaments, and
quiz contests.
Minister
of State in the Ministry of National Security, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, says that the
rehabilitation programme at the St. Catherine Correctional Centre is ensuring
that when incarcerated persons are released, they can
be successfully reintegrated into society.
He hails the focus on education. “We have found the solution, and
the solution is education, giving inmates a second chance at life,” he notes.
Contact: Garfield L. Angus
Release: JIS
Photo Captions:
Header: Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, Hon. Rudyard Spencer (left), looks at sauces produced by inmates of the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre, during a recent tour of the institution in Spanish Town. At right is Corporal Joel Lilly.
1st Insert: Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, Hon. Rudyard Spencer (right), look at items made by inmates of the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre, during a recent tour of the institution in Spanish Town. Senior Superintendent in charge of the facility, Herbert McFarlane (left), and Commissioner of Corrections, Ina Hunter, accompanied Mr. Spencer on the tour.
2nd Insert: Community Development Coordinator at the Scientific Research Council (SRC), Yanique Rodgers (right), discusses the labelling on a bottle of sauce with Senior Superintendent in charge of the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre, Herbert McFarlane (left), and Corporal Joel Lilly. The sauces are among items made by inmates as part of their rehabilition programme.
NASSAU, April 21, 2024 – RBC Financial (Caribbean) Limited, (“RBC”) has appointed Chris Duggan, a native of the Cayman Islands, as Senior Vice President and Head of RBC Caribbean Banking, effective April 1, 2024. He succeeds Chris Ronald, who has been leading the bank’s operations in the Caribbean for the last 2.5 years and has recently returned to Canada as Regional President, Atlantic Provinces at RBC.
Duggan, who is based in Nassau, The Bahamas, is taking on responsibilities as Head of RBC Caribbean Banking to carry out the bank’s strategic direction and manage the overall business strategy and vision across the Caribbean region. He has a career spanning more than two decades in the financial industry across both the United States and the Caribbean.
Most recently, he was the Cayman Islands Government Representative to North America, in Washington DC, primarily focussed on financial services. Prior to his tenure for the Cayman Islands Government, he served as a senior executive at DART Family Office and Butterfield Bank.
RBC’s Executive Vice President, Personal Financing Products, Erica Nielsen said “We’re delighted to welcome Chris to RBC. Born and raised in the Caribbean, Chris has a deep understanding of the regional financial landscape and a passion for representing the culture. He is highly driven, outcome focused, and passionate about building trusted relationships with clients, communities, and employees. His appointment demonstrates our continued commitment to the region. I am confident that under Chris’ leadership, Caribbean Banking will continue to grow and serve our clients and communities.”
As an active member of the communities where he lives and works, he has held leadership roles on the boards of numerous charitable organizations over the years. Duggan was awarded the Queen’s Certificate and Badge of Honour in recognition of his outstanding service to the Cayman Islands community during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
GRENADA (April 21, 2024) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), in partnership with the Grenada Tourism Authority, has curated a dynamic lineup of industry leaders and development partners for its Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC 2024). The gathering aims to explore new strategies for enhancing sustainable tourism amidst evolving global challenges.
Slated for April 22-24, 2024, and centered around the theme The 5 Ps – People, Planet, Prosperity, Purpose and Partnership, the event brings together experts who will discuss creating innovative tourism experiences that capitalize on the Caribbean’s rich natural and cultural resources and presents strategies and best practice solutions to benefit from emerging opportunities and address sustainable tourism challenges.
Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International and a renowned leader in sustainable tourism, will deliver the keynote address on April 22. His remarks are expected to inspire a series of productive discussions on building a resilient and responsible tourism infrastructure in the region.
The conference will feature an impressive roster of speakers sharing their expertise on sustainable tourism development during the following sessions:
GENERAL SESSION I – Planet: Preserving Paradise – Nurturing Nature for a Sustainable Future (April 22, 10:30 am – 11:45 am): This session recognizes the vital connections between the health of our planet and the well-being of all living beings, including humans. Emphasizing the urgent need for conservation action, participants will engage in discussions that transcend rhetoric, focusing instead on tangible solutions and practical interventions. Speakers include:
Christopher Corbin, Coordinator, Cartagena Convention Secretariat, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Giselle Carr, Head of Brand and Communications, InPlanet
Maria Fowell, Senior Technical Specialist-Tourism, Economic Development Unit, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Commission
Rosana John, Attorney-at-Law, Dentons Delany
Michael Russek, Artist, Designer, Fabricator & Eco Creator
Maxine Welsh (Moderator), Director, The Nature Conservancy, Eastern Caribbean Division
GENERAL SESSION II – People: Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges: Harnessing Equity, Education, and Empowerment in Tourism (April 22, 11:45 am – 1:00 pm): The session will explore the pivotal role of diversity, equity, inclusion and education within the tourism sector to empower individuals and drive sustainable development. Speakers include:
Tonni Brodber, Representative of UN Women Multi-Country Office, Caribbean
Dr. Acolla Lewis Cameron, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus
Amrita Bhalla, Managing Director, A.B. Consulting
Melnecia Marshall, Deputy CEO, St. Kitts Tourism Authority
Christopher Lee, Executive Recruiter & Consultant, BIPOC Executive Search
Richard Young (Moderator), Fashion Director & Creative Consultant, Richard Young Inc.
GENERAL SESSION III – Indigenous Excellence: Championing Community, Country and Congruence with Destination Grenada (April 22, 2:15 pm – 3:30 pm): As Grenada celebrates 50 years of independence in 2024, this session highlights the nation’s achievements in fostering Indigenous Excellence through public and private partnerships. Speakers include:
Dr. Angus Friday, Strategic Partnerships Director, Waitt Institute, and Executive Chairman, Atlantean BioSphere Program
Dr. Guido Marcelle, Pharmacognosist, Environmentalist and Practicing Natural Farmer
Mr. Phil Saye, Director, Grenada Fund for Conservation
Petra Roach (Moderator), Chief Executive Officer, Grenada Tourism Authority
MASTER CLASS – Building Resilience Across the 5Ps: Strategies for Tourism Resilience & Competitiveness (April 22, 3:45 pm – 4:45 pm): This dynamic session will explore strategies to bolster resilience within the Caribbean tourism sector, focusing on environmental sustainability, comprehensive disaster management, climate variability and climate change. Speakers include:
Barry Collymore, Owner and Executive Chairman, Mount Cinnamon Beach Resort; Co-Founder of West Indies School of Hospitality (WISH)
Dr. Roché Mahon, Social Scientist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology & Hydrology
Prof. Lloyd G. Waller (Moderator), Professor of Digital Transformation Policy and Governance, University of the West Indies; Executive Director, Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre
Market & Industry Insights Panel (April 23, 8:15 am – 9:00 am): A panel convening experts from the primary source markets and key industry stakeholders to offer perspectives on the latest policies, trends, and developments shaping the tourism landscape. Speakers include:
Carol Rose, Head of Sustainability, ABTA, The Travel Association
Hannah Swift, Country Manager – Caribbean, Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd.
Dr. Allison T. Walker, Chief Surveillance Officer, Travelers’ Health Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Rich Pruitt, Vice President of Environmental Operation, Carnival Cruise Line
Kendra Hopkin Stewart, Deputy Managing Director, Blue Horizons Garden Resort; President, Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association
Frank Comito (Moderator), Special Advisor and Former CEO/DG, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association
Inter-Ministerial Dialogue on Cooperation and Intersectoral Linkages (April 23, 9:00 am – 9:30 am): This fireside chat will feature spirited contributions from four Ministers of the Government of Grenada on modern challenges and solutions in sustainable development and disaster risk reduction. Speakers include:
Senator Adrian Thomas, Minister for Tourism, Creative Economy & Culture, Grenada
Lennox Andrews, Minister for Economic Development, Planning, Agriculture and Lands, Forestry, Marine Resources & Cooperatives, Grenada
Kerryne James, Minister for Climate Resilience, Environment & Renewable Energy, Grenada
Senator Jonathan La Crette, Minister of Youth and Sports, Grenada
GENERAL SESSION IV – Prosperity: Pathways to Prosperity for Sustainable Futures: Sustainable Tourism Financing Donors’ Roundtable (April 23, 9:30 am – 10:30 am): This panel features an illustrious gathering of representatives from primary donor agencies, regional and international development organizations, and financial institutions supporting the Caribbean’s sustainable development. Speakers include:
Dr. Louise Twining-Ward, Senior Private Sector Specialist, The World Bank
Dr. Stacy Richards-Kennedy, Regional Manager for the Caribbean, CAF – Development Bank of Latin America & the Caribbean
Petipha Lewis, Director, Board of the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund; Chair, Network of Caribbean Chambers of Commerce (CARICHAM); Executive Director and Secretary to the Board of Directors of the Grenada Chamber of Industry and Commerce
Chris McNair, Programme Specialist, Business Development, CARICOM Development Fund
Wayne Elliott, Productivity & Innovation Coordinator, Compete Caribbean Partnership Facility
Amanda Charles (Moderator), Sustainable Tourism Specialist, Caribbean Tourism Organization
GENERAL SESSION V – Purpose: Purpose Driven Tourism: Uniting Purpose with Passion for Sustainable Tourism (April 23, 11:00 am – 12:15 pm): This session brings together industry leaders, stakeholders and enthusiasts to explore the intersection of purpose and passion in sustainable travel. Discussions will explore how travelers and tourism providers can align their values and aspirations with meaningful experiences contributing to sustainable development goals. Speakers include:
Alicia Johnson, Author, Lonely Planet
Dr. Thérèse Yarde, Caribbean Fellow/Senior Director, Caribbean SIDS Programming, Conservation International
Kirpa Grewal, Co-Chair, Volunteerism Committee and Executive Committee Member, Women in Cleantech & Sustainability Board of Directors
Kitaka Mawuto, Chief Executive Officer, Elevate Media
Russ Fielden, Owner, True Blue Bay Resort
Michael Carabash (Moderator), Partner, DMC LLP
GENERAL SESSION VI – Partnership: Synergizing Sustainability: Fostering Public, Private, and Community Partnerships in Tourism (April 23, 12:15 pm – 1:30 pm): This session focuses on the transformative power of multi-stakeholder partnerships in advancing sustainability within the tourism industry. It aims to chart new pathways toward inclusive and responsible tourism development by fostering collaboration.
Michael Akin, President, LINK Strategic Partners
Marc Melville, CEO, Chukka Caribbean Adventures Group
Trevor Jonas Benson, President & Chief Executive Officer, Bannikin
Annie Bertrand, Public-Private-Community Partnership Consultant, SIDS Global Business Network
Michelle Mason, Social Impact and Recognition Manager, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance
Kennedy Pemberton (Moderator), Director of Operations, Green Case Consulting
MASTER CLASS – Fu-Tech Tourism: Demystifying the Myths and Exploring the Risks, Benefits and New Opportunities (April 23, 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm): Engage with the future of technology (Fu-Tech) in tourism through this enlightening discussion. The session will debunk myths and explore the risks, benefits, and new opportunities presented by emerging technologies, setting the stage for innovation in the industry. Speakers include:
Ed Limon, Co-Founder and Producer, Winged Whale Media
Orlando Romain (Moderator), Advisor, Grenada Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, with responsibility for ICT and the Creative Economy
CONVERGENCE POINT – Bridging Perspectives for Future Tourism (April 23, 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm): The closing session is designed to bring together diverse perspectives and stimulate dialogue and action that will help shape the future of Caribbean tourism. It explores how stakeholders are working to address challenges, meet market demands, tap into new trends and promote responsible tourism while embracing The 5Ps: People, Planet, Prosperity, Purpose and Partnership. Speakers include:
Shelley V. Worrell, Founder, I AM CaribBeing and Little Caribbean NYC
Oneidge Walrond, Minister of Tourism, Industry & Commerce, Guyana
Aria Laidlow-Ferdinand, Technical Officer, Caribbean Natural Resource Institute (CANARI)
Krisma McDonald, Director of Sustainability, Six Senses La Sagesse
Tenille Clarke (Moderator), Managing Director, Chambers Media Solutions
Partners and sponsors for STC 2024 include LINK Strategic Partners, Little Caribbean NYC, Royal Caribbean International, Silversands Grenada Beach Resort, and Six Senses La Sagesse Grenada Resort.
Airline partners include interCaribbean Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
Sponsors of the Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Awards are the Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association, Grenada Investment Development Corporation, International Institute of Tourism Studies at the GW School of Business, and World Sustainable Travel and Hospitality Awards.
Media partners signed up for the conference are Breaking Travel News, Caribbean Broadcasting Union, Caribbean Media Corporation, and Wanderlust.
Visitcaribbeanstc.com for more information about the conference, speakers, sessions and registration details. To learn more about the Grenada Tourism Authority, visitpuregrenada.com.
St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. April 17th 2024. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is conducting an integrated mission to Antigua and Barbuda (ANU) during April 15-19th to build capacity in surveillance, early warning and response systems, laboratory capacity, competence in health and food safety, and prepare for the launch of the CARPHA Regional Tourism and Health Program (THP), ahead of the 4th International Conference of Small Developing Island States (SIDS), Sailing Week, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and other major upcoming mass gathering(MG) events.
The CARPHA mission, led by Dr. Lisa Indar, Director, Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control Division (SDPC), comprises persons from several CARPHA departments: Dr. Laura-Lee Boodram, Head, Caribbean Regional Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Dr. Michelle Hamilton, Head of Laboratory Services and Networks (LSN), Dr. Jarelle Branford and Ms Sheena DeSilva from Health Information Communicable Diseases and Emergency Response (HCE), Ms Neeta Oudit (LSN), Mr. Keston Daniel and Dr. Anushka Bissoon-Pustam of the Regional Tourism and Health Program (THP), and Mr Mohammed Elsherbiny, Senior Technical Advisor to the THP from the UKHSA.
Dr. Kamaria De Castro, Acting Chief Medical Officer, remarked “The partnership is timely as it helps to improve capacity as it assists in developing a sustainable future. We want to protect our local population as well as our visitors and let them know that we are aware of public health threats and we are preparing, building capacity, training and procuring resources that will be put in place to effectively prevent major spread of diseases. She extended her gratitude to CARPHA for the continued support and partnership.”
Dr. Lisa Indar indicated, “It is important to prevent public health threats to stop them from becoming emergencies as visitors are coming in from many different countries for Cricket World Cup, SIDS, Sailing Week and we want to make sure our visitors as well as our people are safe. We want to put systems in place and strengthen existing systems to be able to identify risks early and begin immediate and more timely responses to mitigate the potential spread of diseases.”
Key outcomes and activities of this mission include:
High level endorsements for the capacity building missions from the Ministers of Health, and Tourism
Formation of an Antigua and Barbuda THP Steering Committee for promoting healthier safer tourism
Communicable Diseases Surveillance workshop for Health Workers across the health sector to understand case definitions and timely reporting to the central level.
National Risk Assessment for mass gatherings, using the WHO/PAHO Mass Gathering Risk Assessment Tool, the results of which will be used to guide preparation and response for the upcoming MGs.
Desktop simulation exercises with doctors, public health nurses, Emergency Medical Services, law enforcement, National Office of Disaster Services, Red Cross and laboratory workers to assess how participants will respond to multiple public health scenarios during mass gathering events and identify gaps/challenges of the same.
Rapid response training for public health professionals, including persons from the security/defense force and the National Office of Disaster Services and partners. The training will review scenarios that necessitate mounting a response to a public health emergency by rapidly dispatching a multidisciplinary team to investigate and implement mitigating measures to contain the situation.
Mass gatherings surveillance training for surveillance team, public health nurses and other members within the health sector. An all-hands-on-deck approach will be taken to emphasize the need for daily and real-time reporting, monitoring, response, coordination, and communication. CARPHA’s regional mass gathering syndromic surveillance system (MGSS) is detailed, including national surveillance, tourism-based surveillance and the new module developed for mass gatherings . Doctors, nurses, and surveillance officers to be present at the health stations for the 4th UN SIDS Conference will also be trained and registered on MGSS.
Engagement with the health, tourism, and port authority teams to discuss ways to bolster disease surveillance of cruise ships for Antigua and Barbuda as a large number of the transient population for the country is through cruises, especially as Antigua and Barbuda is a homeport for many cruise ships.
Conduct field visits to major hotels (including the ones hosting the players and officials for the T20 games) to get them registered on the confidential early warning THiS system.
Training on Food and Environmental Health safety during mass gatherings for food handlers and restaurants, including those who will be providing the catering services for the SIDS Conference. The training focuses on ensuring all food handlers are equipped with the appropriate knowledge and tools to prepare, cook, store and serve food to guests at the establishments and in a Mass Gathering setting.
Training in Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, for the hospitality sector with an additional focus on Mass Gatherings. The session aims to build capacity to quickly identify and respond to cases of infectious diseases and will include participants from the hotel, food and beverage sectors some of which will be working closely with the SIDS Conference and will be working with the upcoming Cricket World Cup.
Assessments of the laboratory network of Antigua and Barbuda for optimization of laboratory services available in-country. Training in testing for priority pathogens during an emergency response and/or mass gathering will be conducted.
As a highly tourism-dependent country, Antigua welcomes as much as 20,000 visitors daily, further highlighting the need for robust visitor-based surveillance. These workshops will provide instruments in identifying and addressing various challenges of Antigua and Barbuda in preparing for mass gatherings. This joint mission aims to strengthen Antigua and Barbuda’s surveillance and response capacity and preparedness to effectively anticipate and manage potential challenges, ensuring a seamless and secure SIDS conference, T20 CWC tournament, Sailing Week and Carnival experience for all.
CARPHA and Antigua and Barbuda continue to work toward supporting Antigua and Barbuda’s preparation for these large-scale mass gathering events and for the large number of tourists visiting the islands on a daily and weekly basis. CARPHA stands ready to continue supporting Antigua and Barbuda.