The GARD Center recently marked the successful completion of its intensive soap-making training program with a formal closing ceremony, celebrating inmates who demonstrated exceptional commitment to personal transformation. Running from November 4th, 2025, the program combined scientific principles with artisanal craftsmanship under the expert guidance of tutor Mrs. Cheryl Samuel.
Participants engaged in comprehensive hands-on training, mastering chemical formulations, natural additive integration, scent development, and various production techniques. Beyond technical skills, the curriculum intentionally fostered discipline, collaborative teamwork, self-confidence, and emotional resilience—qualities essential for successful societal reintegration.
The ceremony’s distinguished attendees highlighted institutional support for rehabilitation initiatives. Notable figures included Bishop Juan Miguel Simson (Board Chairman), Dame J.M. Eusalyn Lewis (Vice Chairman), Col. Trevor Pennyfeather (Prison Superintendent), and Ms. Janice Micheal (Permanent Secretary for Public Safety and Labour). Their collective presence signaled strong governmental and institutional endorsement for vocational training as a credible alternative to recidivism.
Graduates honored included Kenworth Charles, Jay Marie Chin, Akeem Henry, Brittany Jno-Baptiste, Lindell Matthew, Corey Mills, George Thomas, and Kenisha Whyte. The program operates on the evidence-based principle that structured skills development, while not erasing past actions, provides tangible alternatives to previous behavioral patterns. By equipping participants with marketable skills and reinforced self-worth, such initiatives disrupt cyclical incarceration patterns and create meaningful pathways toward constructive citizenship.