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News : International : Caribbean News Last Updated: Mar 31, 2017 - 10:43:34 PM


Testimony brings prison inmates to tears
By Anthony Capron
Mar 30, 2017 - 2:46:58 PM

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APPRECIATION – Dr. Olga Clarke is presented with a token of appreciation for services rendered to Prison Fellowship Bahamas and the Caribbean.

Bahamian Evangelist Ethel Rolle brought tears to the eyes of female inmates at Her Majesty’s Prisons Dodds in St. Philips, Barbados, during a tour of the facilities, Friday, March 24.

It was the culmination of Prison Fellowship International Regional Forum held March 21-24 at the Church of God of Prophecy, Water Street, Christ Church.

Evangelist Rolle told her own story of having low self-esteem, attempting suicide, committing two murders and being imprisoned. She encouraged the inmates to not give up hope and to seek salvation through the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

Barbados’ Attorney General Adriel Braithwaite addressed the delegates during the opening night’s session and told his country’s Prison Fellowship executives that at the end of the four-day forum he would wish them to outline a plan to better the position of people leaving the prison.

“At a recidivism rate of 65 per cent, I want you to reduce that. We need to find some mechanism to work towards that,’ he said.

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BAHAMIAN Delegation in attendance from left: Denver Pratt, David Williams, Ethel Rolle, Anthony Sands, Georgina Gabriel and Anthony Capron.Photo by Anthony Capron

Attending the forum were more than 30 delegates from eight countries inclusive of Barbados, Belize, Bermuda Antigua, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Cayman Islands and The Bahamas. President of Prison Fellowship International, Ravi Rao, conducted a session on Leadership Development and encouraged the Caribbean ministries to conduct their affairs independently of the international organization.

The Bahamian delegation included Elder David Williams, Prison Fellowship International’s Director for the Caribbean Region; Anthony Sands, president, Prison Fellowship Bahamas; Anthony Capron, board member; Denver Pratt, board member; Evangelist Ethel Rolle and Georgina Gabriel.

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OPENING SESSION – Barbados’ Attorney General Adriel Braithwaite, Q.C., addressing the opening night session of the Prison Fellowship International Caribbean Forum. Photo by Anthony Capron

Also in attendance was Dr. Olga Clarke, former president and executive director of PFB. She was recognized for her years of service and dedication to the local and regional organization.

Over the four days the forum was addressed by other cabinet ministers including Social Services Minister Steven D. Blackett and Tourism Minister Richard Sealy, who said the work of Prison Fellowship was necessary.

“Sometimes your work will be questioned by people in society who will ask why are you finding so much time for prisoners?”

Minister Sealy said they will ask why not children, why not the elderly, why not people who are more deserving. However, he insisted that it was necessary to work with the ex-offenders, most whom were males.
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FRIENDS – Barbados’ Tourism Minister Richard Sealy (4th from left) and Thomas Watts, Barbados Prison Fellowship director (2nd from left), are pictured with the Bahamian delegation. Pictured from left: Georgina Gabriel, Dr. Olga Clarke, Denver Pratt, Ethel Rolle, David Williams, Anthony Sands and Anthony Capron.



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TESTIMONY – Evangelist Ethel Rolle gives a riveting testimony during the Prison Fellowship International Caribbean Regional Forum. Photo by Anthony Capron




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