The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Kim Wilkerson, JP, joined families, staff, and officials at the Co-Ed Facility in St George’s last Thursday to celebrate the graduation of two participants from the Department of Corrections’ Right Living House (RLH) programme.
The event, held during National Recovery Month, honoured former Right Living House inmates David Hill and Ernest Smith, whose journeys highlight the life-changing impact of rehabilitation and the importance of second chances.
Since its establishment in 2010, the RLH has provided a structured therapeutic environment to help inmates and former inmates address substance misuse, reshape thinking patterns, and prepare for meaningful lives beyond custody.
More than eighty percent of graduates who complete the residential and aftercare phases of the programme remain in the community for three years or longer without re-incarceration, making it one of the Department’s most successful rehabilitation initiatives.
In her address, Minister Wilkerson commended the achievements of the two graduates and paid tribute to their families and the staff who supported them. She said: “Recovery is not a single event. It is a journey of healing, growth, and renewal.
“It is about restoring dignity, opportunity, and purpose, and building strong connections in our community. David and Ernest, you have demonstrated that recovery is real when one is willing to work for it.
“Your achievements stand as proof that change is possible and that persistence brings reward.”
Both men are now working and living in the community. Mr Hill is employed with Butterfield and Vallis, where he contributes to warehouse operations, while also participating in self-help meetings to encourage others on similar paths.
Mr Smith is employed full-time at Mid Ocean Golf Club, combining steady work with his passion for golf and maintaining his commitment to recovery through regular meetings. Their progress underlines the programme’s role in helping individuals transition successfully from custody into stable, productive lives.
Reflecting on the broader impact of rehabilitation, Minister Wilkerson added: “When we invest in programmes that teach responsibility, life skills, and community values, we build safer neighbourhoods and give people genuine second chances.”
Commissioner of Corrections, Keeva Joell-Benjamin, also spoke at the ceremony, praising the determination of the graduates and the significance of the RLH programme. “The Right Living House embodies the Department of Corrections’ commitment to accountability and rehabilitation,” she later commented.
“Recovery Month reminds us that transformation is possible when individuals are supported by their families, their community, and a structured programme that demands responsibility.
“We are proud of David and Ernest, whose success shows what can be achieved when opportunity meets commitment.”
The Commissioner further emphasised the role of family support: “The encouragement of loved ones has been critical in helping our graduates stay the course. Recovery is not travelled alone, and it is through strong networks of support that individuals can sustain positive change.”
The graduation of David Hill and Ernest Smith was one of several events held this September to mark National Recovery Month, observed internationally under the theme “Recovery is REAL — Restoring Every Aspect of Life.”
The Department of Corrections, together with the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, reaffirmed their commitment to building safer communities through rehabilitation and to recognising the potential for change in every individual.