MEDIA RELEASE - FOOD FOR THE POOR RELEASES 37 JAMAICAN PRISONERS FOR CHRISTMAS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



MEDIA RELEASE


FOOD FOR THE POOR RELEASES 37 JAMAICAN PRISONERS FOR CHRISTMAS & ASSISTS WITH INFRASTRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENT AT THE PRISONS

Kingston, Jamaica – December 19, 2013: Thirty-seven Jamaican inmates, who were incarcerated for minor offences, have been released in time to spend Christmas with their families after the charity, Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica, paid their outstanding fines. The releases were conducted on Wednesday, December 11 and Friday, December 13. The Jamaican Prison Release forms part of FFP’s international Prison Ministry Programme, which will see 140 prisoners being set free in the region, in time to spend Christmas with their loved ones.

Among prisoners who benefited were thirty-three from St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre, three from Fort Augusta Adult Correctional Centre which serves incarcerated women, and one from Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre. Food For the Poor provided each released prisoner with a stipend to cover transportation and lunch, as well as a gift package containing toiletries.

Additionally, FFP has just completed a major renovation and rededication of the Chapel at St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre.

Robin Mahfood, President and CEO, FFP Inc. based in Florida, United States of America, visited the island to witness the Christmas Prison Release and Rededication of the Chapel at St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre on Friday. He shared words of encouragement with the prisoners: “When my brother Ferdie started Food For The Poor, he said he saw God working in his life and he wanted to make a difference in the life of the poor. Over the years, you the beneficiaries have been a blessing to us. We are here to bless each other and we are very proud to help in the little that we do. Between now and Christmas Eve, 140 prisoners will be released in Jamaica, Honduras, Haiti and Guyana and will be free to spend Christmas with their families. They will now be able to understand the grace of God.”

He expressed the commitment of his organization to continue to carry out transformational work in the lives of prisoners and prisons, “We will continue to carry out this mission because we recognize that God is merciful and He is a God of second chances.”

Those inmates who were liberated because of the kindness of FFP had been behind bars because of an inability to pay the fines associated with charges such as Simple Larceny, Traffic Offences, Unlawful Wounding and Breaches of the Copyright Act. Most of the inmates were overcome with a range of emotions ranging between crying, screams of joy and loud applause, as they prepared to depart their respective penal institutions.

A 33-year-old inmate at St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre who originates from St Andrew reflected on his time behind bars: “My family didn’t have the money to pay the fine. My mother took sick a few days after I was arrested and I blame myself every day for that. I pray a lot just asking God to help me out of this situation and to help my mother get well.” He was incarcerated for his inability to pay the fine for driving a vehicle which was not insured.

When asked what was the first thing he was going to do now that he has regained his freedom, the ex-inmate said, “When my mom got sick, everybody said it was because of what happened to me. I am going straight to the hospital to visit my mother…all because of Food For The Poor…now I can spend Christmas with her. Words are not enough to say thanks to you for what you have done.”

Another inmate who was in prison on wounding charges, gushed with joy at his new found freedom: “When I heard that I was leaving, I felt relieved, happy and stress free. I really give thanks for Food For The Poor…for giving me the second chance I thought would never receive. I appreciate what you have done for me and my fellow inmates.” During the rededication ceremony for the Chapel, this inmate was specially acknowledged for his contribution to the refurbishing of the Chapel.

A twenty-one year old mother of two young children, who had been at the Fort Augusta prison for three weeks, shared her reaction to her new freedom: “It is my first time in prison and I am the first one in the family to be in this situation. I am sorry for what I have done and God really answers prayers, so that I am leaving very soon. In the same way that Food For The Poor has helped me, I am wiling to volunteer and help others through the work of Food For The Poor.”


FFP’s prison releases are conducted twice a year during Christmas and Easter. In 2012, a total of 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. The ex-inmates are offered opportunities for income generation under FFP’s Fresh Start Programme.

In regards to the Chapel at the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre, it was built by FFP in 2000, and was this month extensively refurbished. The charity provided the material and the inmates did the work, which included: tiling, replacement of defective doors and windows, installation of modern sanitary conveniences and the construction of a baptismal pool. The Chapel, which can accommodate 500 prisoners at one time, is used by the institution as a multi-purpose centre.

FFP has also installed computers at Tamarind Farm Adult Correctional Centre for inmates, and is implementing a Tree House Project at Richmond Farm Adult Correctional Centre. This project will be a nursery for fruit trees. The charity has also donated musical instruments to the prisons.

Commissioner of Corrections, Javene Bent, commended FFP for its ongoing transformation programmes for prisoners. “I have been Commissioner for just under six months now and everywhere I go, every penal institution I visit, all I hear is Food For The Poor. Your signature is all over this country,” declared Commissioner Bent. “We have had many partners over the years but Food For The Poor stands out not only in terms of material provision to the prisons and inmates but also the spiritual component that you bring. Thank you very much…May God continue to bless you and expand your boundaries.”

She encouraged the ex-inmates to work at improving the quality of their lives: “To lose your freedom is not a good thing but use your experience while here to influence someone to be a better person. Those who are leaving, don’t come back.”

The prisoners also received encouragement from Father Dick Martin of Christ The King Church, Virginia, USA, who is an Advocate/Donor with FFP Inc. “You have a great future ahead and you can shine even brighter than you are already doing.”

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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 95% 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:
Erica James-King, PROComm, T: 926-6740 or 564-5277

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