The Tribune

By Gladstone Thurston

Bahamas Information Services

AN initiative at Her Majesty’s Prison that fosters reconciliation between offenders and victims is taking root.

The Sycamore Tree Programme, the second session of which ended Thursday,  November 22, got the full support of National Security’s Minister of State Keith Bell and Prison Superintendent Dr Elliston Rahming.

The initiative, which has had success in Europe, Canada, and the United States, is sponsored in the Bahamas by Prison Fellowship Bahamas. Dr Olga Clarke is the executive director.

“Where there is forgiveness on the part of the victim and genuine remorse on the part of the perpetrator, healing definitely takes place,” said Mr Bell, the keynote speaker.

Dr Rahming affirmed that the initiative will “add to our efforts to ensure that the vast majority of inmates leave better than they came, better in the sense that they have a new view of themselves, a new vision of who they are.”

The Sycamore Tree is an intensive eight-week in-prison programme that brings crime victims into prison to meet with unrelated offenders.

They talk about the effects of crime, the harm it causes, and how to make things right.

Using a tested discussion guide, the facilitator leads the group through a series of topics leading to a time in which both victims and offenders can share letters and covenants which express how they feel and how they wish to move forward.

Offenders are invited to explore ways of making restitution for the harm caused by their criminal behaviour.

Victims are given the opportunity to consider ways in which they can take control of their lives and begin their journey toward healing and restoration.

At the final session, the group meets with members of the community, to share their experiences over a meal.

Sycamore Tree takes its name from the Bible story of Zacchaeus the crooked tax collector who had come to see Jesus. Being short in stature, he climbed a sycamore tree to get a good view. Jesus noticed him and let him know he cared about him.

Many in the crowd found that hard to accept. They had been victims of Zacchaeus’ crimes. But, out of that encounter, Zacchaeus agreed to pay back even more than he had stolen.

The prison is home to 1,550 inmates, about 98 per cent of whom will leave one day, said Dr Rahming.

There are many theories in The Bahamas about what causes crime – social, economic or biological, he said.

“All those reasons influence people into delinquent behaviour but they do not cause crime,” he said.

“When we peel away all the explanations…crime is cause by the decisions we make. Those decisions lead to hurt and harm, deprivation and loss to somebody else.

“What the Sycamore Tree Programme seeks to do is to put the victim and perpetrator together so that the perpetrator can understand the crime committed was against a real person with real feelings and real life circumstances.

“Hopefully, as a result of that understanding, those inmates who have reached the point where they are prepared to consider being remorseful … this (programme) would probably facilitate that.

“Likewise, victims have to reach the point where they have to be ready for this programme. Some victims are just not ready.”

Mr Bell said the government is serious about prison reform.

This initiative, combined with technical, vocational and academic programmes, attitude and behaviour programmes, drug therapy and extramural work release programmes “constitute positive evidence that genuine efforts are being made to redirect the minds of (inmates),” said Mr Bell.

In the true spirit of Zacchaeus of old, he added, victims of crime “are examples of the power of forgiveness”.

He applauded participating inmates “for taking this important step on the road towards rehabilitation and reintegration.

“The Bahamas needs you as productive purposeful contributing members of our society.”