Inmates of Fort Augusta keep Christmas in their hearts

Anastasia Cunningham, Senior Gleaner Writer

A soothing, cool Christmas breeze transported the sounds of laughter and excitement throughout the 10-acre property situated on the edge of the seashore by the Port Henderson Beach in St Catherine.

With the mid-morning sun providing the perfect degree of warmth, Christmas was definitely in the air at the Fort Augusta Adult Correctional Centre last Thursday.

Behind the high walls and heavy metal gates of the strictly guarded all-female prison was a story of hope, as well-manicured lawns and bright-coloured, freshly painted buildings lit up the mood of what was expected to be place of doom and gloom that imprisoned 249 women from the freedom and enticement of the rest of the world.

The spirit of Christmas with all its hustle and bustle, excitement and essence of hope was not lost on the inmates of Fort Augusta.

Inside the home economics centre women were busy baking several batches of Christmas cake and pudding, with just days to go before the world would celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Over by the hair salon, Correctional Officer One Andrea Robinson had her hands full dolling up the ladies with the hottest hairstyles.

A few women were toiling away in the textile and sewing room completing the garments they wanted done by the Christmas weekend.

Music from inside the chapel walls filtered throughout every corner of the prison as the band from the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre prepared for the Christmas concert only an hour away.

This certainly wasn't a prison atmosphere. The women had adapted to their circumstances and were making the best of it. Despite being locked away from their families, they were going to enjoy Christmas with all its trimmings.

Superintendent Reuben Kelly and his team of correctional officers have been doing their best to make the environment as homely as possible, and the Christmas season enjoyable.

"It is important that we create a family environment here, with various activities and events and get them actively involved in several rehab and academic programmes," said Kelly, who is well loved and called 'daddy' by many of the inmates.

While taking The Sunday Gleaner team on a tour, Kelly was stopped by several of the inmates who wanted to talk to him about one issue or another, share a joke or just to greet him.

"Me love my superintendent. My superintendent is very nice," uttered one inmate as she stopped to shake his hand.

Thursday's concert was the second of two Kelly had arranged to be held this December, featuring a host of top entertainers.

On December 13 and 14, they also hosted a family outing and treat, where the inmates got to discard their uniforms and dress up to spend time with their children and families. A bounceabout, toys, refreshments and entertainment were all part of the excitement.

RICHIE THRILLED

For this second concert, the expectation of the popular artistes coming into their inner sanctum to bring a special treat brought the excitement to a crescendo - thanks to Teddy Laidley's 'Care Within' programme, part of which is seeking to unearth musical talent within the prison walls across Jamaica.

When the likes of Richie Stephens, Pinchers, Ras Penco and Nesbeth finally graced the concert hall in the chapel, the deafening screams that echoed throughout the prison walls told the story of the euphoria that gripped the women.

The soulful Stephens took them on an emotional high. With his smooth, sexy, powerful vocals and definite sex appeal, the girls swooned all over him, screaming, crying and almost fainted from the passion he was evoking in them.

His rendition of A Change is Gonna Come proved too much for some as they just let the tears flowed, soaking up the lyrics being sung by a voice that tore into their soul.

At the end of the performances, the women would not let the artistes depart without getting an autograph or just a touch.

ZERO REPEAT OFFENDERS

Built by the British in the 16th century, the facility was established as the Fort Augusta prison in 1968, now housing 10 dormitories, three of which are dedicated juvenile centres.

The inmates range from age 13 to 72 years. The 188 adults are mainly within the 18 to 35 age group, while the 61 juveniles are between ages 13 and 17. Thirty-three of the inmates are foreign nationals, mainly British.

Kelly said at present, 90 per cent of the offences are drug related, while the other 10 per cent comprise wounding, simple larceny, fraud and murder.

Fifteen adults are serving life sentences for murder, while some are serving as little as 30-day sentences for minor offenses. Six of the juveniles are on murder charges.

Over the last few years, the 300-capacity prison has seen a reduction in the inmate population, mainly due to its many rehabilitation programmes, noted the superintendent. Today, they have next to zero repeat offenders.

Among its rehab programmes is a computer lab with 11 workstations donated by the Department for International Development (DFID) through the British High Commission. Here, correctional officers one Charlane Williams and Dawn Bennett teach the inmates basic computer skills and repairs.

At the hair salon they learn cosmetology in partnership with HEART-Trust/NTA, and cooking is taught at the home economics centre, where they bake their own bread and cakes. Over by the sewing and textile department, they make their own uniforms, sheets and nightgowns.

An old dorm is presently being restructured into an art and craft centre.

Academics is also an essential part of their rehab, where the state pays for the inmates to sit the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) subjects English, mathematics, biology, social studies and accounts. There are currently nine inmates preparing to sit the exams next year.

Last year, two of those that sat CSEC earned a grade one in accounts.

The prison also operates its own radio station 89.9 FM, and prepaid telephone booths allow inmates to keep in touch with the outside world. Using vouchers paid for by loved ones, inmates can make purchases of snacks and other items at the tuck shop.

Currently, there are four babies waiting to go home with family members, while another four inmates are expecting. One was just about due and looked quite ready to have a Christmas baby or a definite New Year bundle of joy.

The women of Fort Augusta won't be there much longer, as the government is currently in the process of building a new female prison.

Inmates, like 40-year-old Marcia, have learnt to adapt to their circumstance and make the best Adult Correctional Centre of a bad situation.

Now eight years into a 35-year to life sentence for murder, Marcia spent the first few years depressed and in tears living in what she calls a "hellhole". Christmas without her family was especially hard.

After years of readjusting her mind to accept a life confined and heavily restricted, she has now taken on a positive attitude and is living her life one day at a time. Survival has become her key word and attitude.

"I call it a hellhole because of the crap you have to go through here. It was really hard to deal with it, some officers who were not so professional took advantage of me, and I had to adjust to sleeping and living with persons of a different social status. It was really hell to live around them, but I had to tell myself that this is a space I have to survive in and I must," she said.

Now with a positive outlook and keeping her spirit high with constant laughter, Marcia is busily involved in most of the recreational and rehabilitation activity at Fort Augusta. She has also become a role model, counselor and shoulder to cry on for the other inmates who are finding it hard to cope. She also helps to teach the CSEC accounts class, after achieving grade one in accounts and biology last year.

Marvelled by her high spirits, the other inmates tout her as a source of strength and inspiration.

'If you bury down yourself, life is going to bury you down. But if you lift up yourself, life will help you to lift up yourself. It is just about survival. If you see it as something that keeps you down, it will keep you down, but if you see it as something that can lift you, it can lift you. Use it as a stepping stone to greatness," she declared with gusto and a charming smile.

Marcia shared her gratitude for the effort 'daddy Kelly' and the correctional officers make in helping to brighten their Christmas, especially the family day.

Today, as the world celebrates Christmas with all the joy and niceties that come with it, Marcia and the other 248 inmates of Fort Augusta will be enjoying it too. Ham, rice and peas and sorrel topped off with Christmas pudding will all make their season bright, as the sweet strains of Christmas carols echo from the chapel and the beautifully decorated Christmas tree sparkles with glowing lights.

anastasia.cunningham@gleanerjm.com