AN international team of four experts has arrived in Guyana to offer the government a proposal for prison reform, by way of a project called ‘Holistic Prison Ministry’.

Their approach focuses on the concept of moral rehabilitation, aiming to provide inmates with a sense of purpose, and support their transition into law-abiding citizens.
The team was brought here under the patronage of Region Three Private Sector Inc. (R3PSInc) and its head, Halim Khan.

The team consists of Dr. Joanne Spence, a psychologist from Trinidad and Tobago; Dr. Desmond Khan from Canada, who specialises in biofeedback, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); Ms. Marjorie Beazer, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Principal Consultant of the Lead Center for Public Policy, Advocacy, Justice, and Social Change, of California; and John Duggan, who holds a Doctor of Ministry degree, from Canada.

The team is experienced in addressing mental health issues such as Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, which are often prevalent among incarcerated individuals.
In a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Beazer stated that they represent a larger group of individuals in Canada, and are in Guyana to help facilitate and collaborate with the people and the Government of Guyana in producing holistic and sustainable changes through the lens of criminal justice, leading to better outcomes for communities, individuals, and the country.
“One of the primary reasons we have a correctional system is to do just that; correct behaviour, which includes the way I think, the values I hold, the attitudes, and the principles that govern my life,” she said, adding:

“When we take a holistic approach to doing that, we achieve better outcomes. These outcomes are sustainable, measurable, and benefit not only the person and their family but also the community.”

Born in the British Virgin Islands, and currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Jamaica, Beazer brings her expertise as a former counsellor in prison in Antigua and Barbuda, as well as her background in criminal justice and counselling.

IMPACT OF HOLISTIC APPROACHES
She highlighted the significant impact holistic approaches can have on young inmates, in terms of preventing them from falling back into a life of crime.

Beazer also currently chairs a technical committee in Jamaica, where they are working on first-time standards for the correctional sector.

“We have the opportunity now to incorporate concepts such as faith, not just where we look at rehabilitation normally; it is skill building… I’m going to teach you a trade, but we don’t focus on character building,” she said, adding:

“Faith can do that, as well as work within the scheme of psychosocial, health and wellness, that’s what we are here to do.”

She said there is a trend worldwide, and in the Caribbean as well, where there is an uptick in the number of incarcerated females.

“She is a caregiver; she is the one who has children. When you snatch mommy out of the home and incarcerate her, what happens to the children? That caregiving responsibility resides within her, generally,” she explained.

She said that in the context of prison, it was originally designed for men, so a woman’s unique needs would need to be addressed, so that when she comes out, she, too, is ready to be reintegrated.

Beazer further spoke about a new concept called resettlement within the sector. It entails supporting them through a period of reintegration, and helping with possible addiction, housing, and employment issues.

Meanwhile, Dr. Spence, a behavioural change consultant, lecturer at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad, and a trauma specialist, has written eight books.
One of her books, ‘From Retribution to Restoration’, focuses on prison reform and the transition from a retributive approach to a restoration approach.

Additionally, Dr. Spence attended Oxford University, where she developed the Spence RAFT theory. This theory emphasises recognition, amendment, forgiveness, and transformation (RAFT) as key elements of the restoration approach.

“I have used it in the prison because I have been a consultant in the prison in Trinidad and Tobago for a number of years, and I have used that to help people transition,” Dr. Spence said.
Another one of her books, ‘Mentoring Troubled Youth’, focuses on mentoring.

“I strongly believe that when we start mentoring young people early with the right mentors, they will not find themselves in prison or engage in delinquent behaviour. So, I have a strong belief in mentoring,” she added.

John Duggan, a Doctor of Ministry from Canada, highlighted the need for a holistic response to prison reform, considering individuals’ physical, mental, and spiritual aspects.
He hopes to foster meaningful conversations, inspire change, and strengthen the connection between Guyana and Canada.

Meanwhile, psychologist Dr. Khan firmly believes that individuals who commit crimes lack a sense of morality and only think about themselves. He emphasised that the programmes offered to inmates in prison would not instill morality.

“We would have heard the statement that when people go to prison, they find God, and then we may laugh at that statement, but that’s ideally the truth, because when they went into prison, they did find God in the form of religion, and that brings some transformation in their lives; morality steps up,” he said, adding:
“Programmes do not bring about morality; religious aspects do.”

He noted that they have a wide range of expertise in Canada, ranging from music to clergy to psychology, which they will present to the government of Guyana.