FOOD FOR THE POOR SECURES RELEASE OF 81 PRISONERS

37 Drawn from Jamaican Prisons  

SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine (April 5, 2013) – Thirty seven inmates, who were incarcerated for minor offences, were released in time to spend Easter with their families after charity organization, Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica paid their outstanding fines.  The releases were conducted during Holy Week and forms part of the organizations international Prison Ministry Programme which saw the release of 81 inmates from prisons in Guyana, Haiti, Honduras and Jamaica.

Superintendent A.D. Brown (centre) recently gave final instructions to some

 inmates at St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre, moments after

 they received the good news of their release.

 

Of the total number released in Jamaica, thirty (30) were drawn from St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre while three were released from Tamarind Farm Adult Correctional Centre and one from Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre. Fines were also paid for an additional three inmates who were being temporarily held at two police stations in Kingston.

 

While the charges varied, the inmates all had one thing in common - they were given a second chance and they were grateful.  This point was reiterated by FFP’s Prison Ministry Administrator, Sandra Ramsey, as she addressed the inmates at St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre.  “We all make mistakes and we all deserve a second chance.  Food For The Poor is here to grant you that second chance by paying the fines to ensure that you spend Easter, and everyday thereafter, with your families and friends,” she said.  “Our only request is that you remember God’s love at this time and make every effort to stay out of prison…do not return.”

 

She explained that most inmates are forced to spend time behind bars because of an inability to pay the fines associated with the charges which includes Simple Larceny, Traffic Offenses, Unlawful Wounding and Breach of the Copyright Act.

 

The inmates responded to FFP’s intervention in various ways; some in tears, a few in glad surprise and others in loud applause.  

 

The group of inmates from St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre could hardly contain their gratitude as they stood clapping and praising Food For The Poor for its gesture.  Among them was a 29-year-old farmer from St. Catherine who was charged for Unlawful Wounding after defending himself against an attacker.  “This is my first time in a place like this and it has been very hard so for someone to just take me out is more than I could ever imagine.  One thing is certain, I am not coming back,” he said. 

 

One of the inmates from Tamarind Farm, a 49-year-old father from Kingston, was in shock upon receiving the news that he was one of three inmates to be released from the institution.  He was charged for Possession of False Documents and fined J$150,000.  “I couldn’t believe that I was actually going to spend over a year in prison.  Every night since being in prison, I dream about farming, whether planting or reaping.  Today, my dream has come to a reality because I am reaping my freedom and I appreciate it.”

 

In addition to paying their fines, FFP also provided cash for transportation and lunch, as well as a gift package containing toiletries.  They were also instructed to contact FFP after the Easter holiday where a process will be initiated to help them start some entrepreneurial enterprise. 

 

Most of the 16 prisoners released in Haiti in time for Easter were jailed because they stole food to feed their families.  In Guyana, 21 inmates were released on March 25 from Georgetown Prison, Timehri Prison and New Amsterdam Prison.  Seven inmates from a prison in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, were also released and reunited with their families.  Jamaica recorded the highest number of released inmates.

 

FFP’s prison releases are conducted twice a year during Easter and Christmas.  In 2012, a total of forty eight (48) inmates were released in Jamaica.  Since the inception of FFP’s Prison Ministry Programme, the charity has assisted in freeing, training and reintroducing non-violent inmates into communities as productive citizens.

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Food For The Poor (FFP)-Jamaica is the largest charity organization in the country.  Food For The Poor Inc., located in Florida, USA, was named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international relief and development organization in the United States. It is an interdenominational Christian agency that does much more than feed the millions of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. FFP provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96% of all donations going directly to programmes that help the poor. For more information visit our Web site at www.foodforthepoorja.com 
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Contact:

Petri-Ann Henry, Food For The Poor, T:  984-5005 or 564-2886

 

Erica James-King, PROComm, T: 926-6740 or 564-5277