Dear Editor,
There are too many unwelcomed activities that are seeping into the culture, and swiftly changing the landscape of this island. The questions remain: How much longer are we going let this negative phase ruin this beautiful island, and what will become of it if the government is forced aside, either by Holland’s heavy-handed approach or, God forbid, by this cultivated and audacious mindset of these criminals?
In Monday’s article, I questioned if mentoring for the inmates would extend beyond the prison, when they are released. Since there isn’t any certainty to this question (not that I know of), and it would take the input of all of us to shape the community into what we aspire it to be, then I’ve got a proposal for Member of Parliament Dimar Labega.
MP Labega, a few months ago you shocked your colleagues in Parliament and the community, when you announced that you were in prison 16 years ago. You briefly mentioned the reason and the length of time that you were behind bars. For me, that was such a sincere admission, because it tells me that you have made peace with yourself and a commitment to change the trajectory that you were gravitating towards.
What really stood out for me was when you disclosed that you still have the same friends (although some have passed), but you don’t get involved in that activity, anymore. Even though I am curious to know what caused you to back away from that lifestyle and how you find the strength to associate with the same friends and still remain grounded, is exactly where my request hinges, because this mindset can be utilized towards a greater cause.
MP Dimar Labega, what if you use that experience to assist youngsters in prison or the vulnerable ones within the community, who are on the verge of being lured into this cycle of crime? What if you make this your mission and take it from the very beginning – how you were able to pacify that overpowering temptation/that double-minded spirit of to do or not to do? With this initiative, you can reach so many young minds, because they can identify with your experience.
Your down-to-earth personality will signal the permission to deliberate with them how you managed to tame your mind, in order to remain grounded in a society that has lost its spiritual and moral values. It would also give you the privilege to share if the change took you on a spiritual journey – one that rescued you from being overwhelmed by peer pressure.
Or did the experience become a wake-up call – the encounter that deterred you from being constantly hanging in the balance – or was it the reflections of the early teachings of family values? Once you have identified the attraction that caused them to go astray, it would be easier to divert their attention towards more positive choices.
MP, if you don’t want to venture into the community, you can form a team and adopt the Miss Lalie Center in Cay Bay. My biggest concern is when the inmates come out, they would revert to their same old ways, once that mentorship is not in place. Then the effort wasn’t just a total waste of tax payers' hard-earned money, it also reflects a complete breakdown of the Justice system, the family unit and the disintegration of future generations.
So, MP Labega, I'm urging you to use your experience as a soft spot for inmates to fall. Once you can identify the attraction, it’s easier to divert their attention to pursue more healthy choices. For you to achieve an effective outcome, you need to have a team of like-minded persons who were in your situation or of a similar nature, and have the burning desire to make a difference.
Joslyn Morton
