"Great is my tribulation." Incarcerated Neville Glaude, 55, was philosophising on his "life sentence." He made this comment at a reunion between inmates and their families for the Christmas season at the Michael Hercules Gymnasium, Maximum Security Prison, Arouca, on December 4.
The event was hosted by the Prisons in collaboration with the Angel Tree Programme. The inmates came from the Carrera Convict Prison, Port-of-Spain, Golden Grove and the Maximum Security Prison. His imprisonment was compounded by the fact his son Dexter Hackett Glaude, 26, was also imprisoned.
Senior Glaude has been committed for murder and junior Glaude for possession of a firearm. The senior Glaude is a "lifer" but junior Glaude is expected to be released in 2011. Both Glaudes said they wanted to send a message to their children and youth that crime doesn't pay.
Like other incarcerated citizens, they were spending time with their families–wives, girlfriends, children and grandchildren.
Prisons Commissioner John Rougier had described the approach as "restorative justice with a philosophical approach."
As far as the eye could see, inmates and loved ones joked, chatted and traded their experiences about prison and the "free world." Women doted on the menfolk. Sporting dreadlocks, jeans and T-shirt, an observer would not have thought senior Glaude was a prisoner but dressed to go liming.
But the fact that he was imprisoned was communicated by the initials MSP etched on his T-shirt. Beaming, Glaude said: "I am a member of the inmates band. I am about developing myself." He has honed his skills in music and has accepted the fate he had been dealt with in his lifetime.
An eternal optimist, Glaude said: "I know I can still make it to heaven. I will be free for eternity." Glaude also attributed the downward spiral in his life and his incarceration to "spiritual warfare." Taking a moment to pat his grandson, he said: "Parents have lost spiritual values. We have lost spiritual values. No matter what you do, you are engaging in spiritual warfare."
On a personal note, he added: "I lost my mother and my father while I was in here. My tribulation is great. "I sometimes feel the Creator has me in here for a purpose. If by my life I could guide others to turn away from crime and evil, then I would accomplish something."
Prisoners remorseful
Quizzed on how he copes with being a "lifer," he said: "You have to be strong. The healing begins with prayer and fasting. You have to combat the spiritual warfare." He also paid kudos to Wayne Chance, an ex-prisoner, who was now a beacon of light for prisoners. On August 31, he was conferred with a national award for his programme Vision On Mission.
Cognisant about the crime, violence and proliferation of gangs, he reiterated his call for the leaders to engage in a day of prayer and fasting. "We need to have a day of prayer and fasting. We have to start in homes. There is no easy solution to the problem. There is no good and evil gang. The gangs belong to Lucifer. We have to watch and pray."
Putting those things (prison) behind him, Junior Glaude, 26, said he would look for a "little job to maintain his family." "I agree with my father, parents have to guide their children on the right path. We are looking at breaking the cycle of crime and violence.
Turning to his nephews and his son Sean Hackett, four, he said: "We don't want them to come in here. We want a better life for them."
Meanwhile, both men paid kudos to Nikila Cabrera for holding the fort and taking care of the children.
Cabrera said: "My mother and I does be fighting up with the children. I have to be strong for them." Consensus among the prisoners was they were remorseful for their actions which resulted in crimes ranging from murder to wounding with intent. Arson, robbery, larceny and possession of marijuana and trafficking were common offences.
On the flip side, they were glad to be able to spend time with loved ones, albeit temporarily. More importantly, the extended period away from their families and children strengthened their resolve to maintain family ties and not return to prison upon their release. Among the inmates looking forward
