TWENTY-ONE inmates from five of the island's correctional institutions this week got a gift that a number of them wished for during Christmas - freedom - thanks to Food for the Poor.

The inmates, who were imprisoned for minor offences, had fines totalling $600,000 paid by the charity organisation, which over the past five years has been paying for the release of low-risk prisoners. The organisation has given hundreds of prisoners their freedom by paying their fines.

At the St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre on Wednesday, the 10 men were overcome with joy when they were called to the prison chapel and told for the first time that they would be home in time to spend Christmas with their families.

Clive Tavares, a 37-year-old tiler from Green Island in Hanover, told the Observer that he was sentenced to six months on a wounding charge and fined $40,000, which he could not pay.

In the three months he has been behind bars, Tavares said things had started to "fall apart" for his five children.
"I am really glad for what Food for the Poor did today and I know things will start working out for me as soon as I get home," he said. "This is the best Christmas gift ah coulda get."

The men were given their belongings in small plastic bags and boxes and sent through the gate with the $2,000 Food for the Poor had also provided for bus fare to their homes.

Another inmate, Wayne Carey, a 53-year-old resident of West Kingston, was delighted that he was going home to a "good meal", especially since the prison diet did not cater to vegetarians like himself.
"Sometimes is all a bread me eat fi the day because me no eat no meat,' he said.

He was particularly grateful since he believed his two-month sentence was more severe than the crime he was charged with - operating a vehicle without a red plate, road licence and insurance.

"For someone who has a misdemeanour it is very hard for them to be sent here to mix up with hardened criminal," Carey said

Another inmate, who asked not to be named, said he too was sentenced for operating an illegal taxi. Unable to pay the $54,000 fine he spent the last month in prison.

On Wednesday, as he prepared to leave, he told the Observer he was now going to figure out a way to get his car out of the pound.

"I am really glad to be out because I don't like this place. It is not a nice place," he said.
Two inmates at the female prison at Fort Augusta also had their fines paid.

One of them, a 35-year-old mother who asked not to be named, broke down in tears after she was told she would go home at least two months earlier than expected.

The mother of two told the Observer that she opted to traffic ganja after she tried desperately to find the money to continue her practical nurse training without success. Instead she was caught, convicted and fined $58,000 in addition to a prison term.

"Ah so sorry I did this because it really affected my mother and my children and many times I think about it and wonder why I didn't try and sell some bag juice or something instead," she said.

Now that she has learnt her lesson, she said she wants to continue her studies as she still harbours the dream of becoming a practical nurse.

Warrel Russell, an inmate who is in prison on a murder charge, but who now spends his days writing hundreds of gospel songs and ministering to fellow inmates had strong advice for those men who were given their freedom.

"This is the best gift ever you could get so make use of the opportunity and don't step out of line and come back here," he told them.

Sandra Ramsay, manager of the Food for the Poor prison ministry explained that helping the inmates does not end with paying the fines, but that they assist them to start businesses once they are out. They also have to assisted with housing for a number of them.

She said the prison release programme has been very successful as it was very rare that there were repeat offenders.