Making waves in prison:A moving book launch

THE EDITOR: Last Saturday, I had the unique privilege of attending the launch of the book Making Waves by Debbie Jacob at the Port of Spain Prison on Frederick Street.

Now, in the week leading up to the book launch I had mentioned to a few people that I was going to the jail on Saturday and the reactions were all predictably negative. So, let me tell you what really happened there.

At 9.30 am the group of about 40 invited guests were quickly and courteously ushered into the prison complex where covered tents and comfortable seating awaited us in the main courtyard. Across from the invitees was a group of about 40 prisoners, all well dressed, seated quietly and chatting good-naturedly with each other.

The MC for the programme, Senior Supt of Prisons Fabian Alexander, got the programme started with the national anthem and a prayer followed by one of the prisoners who spoke very well. Then there was an uplifting address by Supt of the PoS Prison Charmaine Johnson, followed by an excellent speech by Prison Commissioner Gerald Wilson.

In-between the Prison Band played some fantastic music specially themed to the book launch and including One Love by Bob Marley, Chicago, Chicago by Lord Invader, Rum and Coca-Cola, and Crisis in Alabama, also by Invader.

There was a reading and a talk by the author Jacobs, who explained the rationale for the book, which tells the story of the Caribbean’s significant influence on the shaping of much of American life and culture.

Jacob also outlined her role in teaching English classes to prisoners, both in Port-of-Spain and at the Youth Training Centre. A significant part of the story is the great work done by Debbie’s charity foundation Wishing for Wings and the Children’s Ark Foundation, headed by Simone de la Bastide, in refurbishing a former condemned prisoners wing into a wonderfully decorated library for the specific purpose of prisoners reading to their children.

There were three readings from the book by prisoners Mark Hernandez, Brian Rambaran and Akili Charles. All of them showed poise, confidence and good diction in their readings. Indeed, Charles spoke about the achievements of Jamaican-born political activist Marcus Garvey in such a moving manner that it almost brought tears to my eyes. The entire event was flawlessly executed and I think I can speak on behalf of all the guests there to say congratulations to all of the stakeholders including the entire Port of Spain Prison staff, the Prison Band, which was excellent, and of course Jacobs, who I would like to now nominate for a national award for her selfless service in teaching prisoners for the past seven years.

GREGORY WIGHT
, Maraval