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It’s no secret that a fair percentage of those imprisoned at the Kolbe Central Prison are drug addicts – which means that their problem is essentially a health issue; they are chemically dependent. Yes, that dependency provokes criminal behaviour but their case poses an interesting challenge for the Kolbe management because if they can make them “better” – that is, getting rid of their dependency – then their reform is not notional, it’s real because the sickness that drove them to commit crime has been taken out of the picture – at least for the time being.

It’s a simple equation on the inside but when those prisoners get on the outside, the variables start multiplying, and the first problem is that for addicts the sickness of drug dependency is a chronic problem; there’s no lifelong cure, and everyday is a struggle. Today at the Kolbe prison I met some recovering addicts who are determined to overcome that struggle on the outside and others who are determined to keep clean for the rest of their life sentences.

Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
Thirty five year old Lorenzo Neiggs will not be back home with wife and six children for another seven months but today the family had good reasons to be happy. The husband and father has successfully acquired the skills he will need to help him become a role model for his dear ones and a productive citizen. Lorenzo Neiggs is presently serving out a sentence at the Belize Central Prison. He and ninety six other inmates volunteered to receive ninety days of therapy. The programme is part of the correctional facility’s rehabilitation programme.

Lorenzo Neiggs, Graduate – ARC Rehab Centre
“I need to change to my life and I am not turning back. This program is good for my life. When I go home, I will be a good husband, good father, and good friend. I belong to Jesus Christ right now.”

The head of the Ashcroft’s Rehabilitation Centre Juan Vega, a former inmate, says only thirty percent of the graduates return to prison. It is the third time that twenty year old Mynor Pineda has received therapy. So does that mean when Pineda is released in 2010 we should expect him back at the Belize Central Prison? Well the young inmate who is a recovering addict says that will depend on whether the public is willing to give him the kind of support he has received at the ARC.

Mynor Pineda, Graduate – ARC Rehab Centre
“In the prison I learnt a lot of things right. I find out myself that I do a lot of bad out there and I want them to forgive me. I will nearly go out there and I hope they receive me back in the society. I want to thank all the ones in the prison because they showed me a lot. Out in society I never got a certificate and in the prison I got one so I feel good because out there I couldn’t write or read but in here I went to school and learn to read and write and talk English a little bit. The prison helped me a lot and my thinking changed now and I want to do better out there.”

The reality is that the inmates, as determined as they may be to stay the course, are not well received by society. Although today’s graduation was filled with optimism and goodwill the rehabilitation programme has had its share of criticisms since its inception three years ago. Many feel that what they describe as soft treatment given to prisoners does not suit the crimes they committed, especially in homicide cases.

Jacqueline Godwin,
“But once they get here, some people are under the impression that they have life better behind bars at the Belize Central Prison than when they were living outside.”

Juan Vega, Head – ARC Rehab Center
“Well I wouldn’t say that because when they come here they are locked down in a cell, they are being monitored and they have counselling. Here in prison there is nothing as a high life, it is hard labour. First we do hard labour here, we do the cleaning of our compound, the chopping crew, we do everything. We do the hard labour.”

The ninety days of recovery does not mean that when these inmates are released, they are free of their addiction. That is why the support demonstrated by Lorenzo Neiggs’ family and all those who came to their son, brother and husband’s graduation is important and should be an ongoing effort by families and in the community they reside.

Jacqueline Godwin,
“And how do you feel?”

Nicole Akribopules, Daughter
“I feel happy because my father graduated.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
“I bet you can’t wait for daddy to get back home.”

Nicole Akribopules,
“I wish my father was there right now.”

Lorenzo Neiggs,
“God bless me everyday, everyday God bless me and thank you Jesus. The credit is for Jesus Christ.”

Areil Akribopules, Son
“Everyday we pray to God that my father will come out soon and he will be a good husband to my mother and my mother will be a good wife to him.”

Mynor Pineda,
“Next year I am going home and I hope all the people out there take me back again.”

The ninety seven graduates each received certificates from the Chairman of Kolbe Foundation and his son John and Francis Woods.

The ninety days therapy includes an Alcoholic’s Anonymous Programme, an overview of addiction as a disease, criminal and addictive thinking, spiritual and individual counselling among others.