Organisers of a programme aimed at bringing former prisoners back into the mainstream have called on Government to help keep it afloat.

The religious-based Wood Shop programme, which has saved several people from the revolving door prison system, is financially strapped.

In addition to the expenses of running the programme, organisers are looking for some $25,000 a year to help two infamous prisoners -- convicted child killer/rapist Chesterfield Johnson and rapist/burglar Kenneth (Eggs) Smith -- who are soon to be released.

And while the release and the request may be controversial, Wood Shop co-founder Clevelyn Simmons noted that that price was far less than Bermuda would pay if the former inmates did not receive help and returned to crime and prison.

"So far we have had close to 60 something men who have worked in the programme and we're getting ready to take on two people who have been in jail for 18 years,'' Mr. Simmons told The Royal Gazette .

"We figured it was cheaper to keep them out, than to have them locked up.'' Mr. Simmons said Wood Shop organisers met with former Health and Social Services Minister Clarence Terceira before he retired last December.

"We sat down with Dr. Terceira before he left and he was in agreement that we take these prisoners under our wings,'' he noted.

"We need $25,000 a year to take these guys in and for them to show some growth, like we did with Winslow (Dewey) Durrant. He is still working. He has his own apartment.'' Mr. Simmons -- a former prisoner who founded the Wood Shop about two years ago with financial backer and director Roland Hill, ex-inmate Jerome Crockwell and Hands of Love founder Fern Wade -- explained that the rationale behind the programme was to find work for inmates so that they can pay their own way and learn to become productive members of society.

But he said: "We have to borrow, beg, and do whatever is necessary -- except crime -- to keep it going. The Wood Shop is struggling.'' "Mr. Hill has been working without a wage since we started and we have Mrs.

Wade coming on full-time soon,'' Mr. Simmons added. "Even if she does not want money, these people have to feed their families.'' While praising Public Safety Minister Quinton Edness for giving Wood Shop organisers "some direction'', Mr. Simmons said: "We appreciate that, but we need the funds.'' "We take a small amount from every job to pay utility bills,'' he explained.

"Mr. Hill who has been on full-time since we started has yet to get a wage.

He has taken money out of his own pocket and is yet to get anything back.

"We've been going for two years with very little assistance, except from our sponsors the Bank of Butterfield which provided us with tools and the Bank of Bermuda who assisted us with last year's back rent.'' The Wood Shop has also received help from other companies, including Bermuda Telephone Company Ltd. and Shell.

"But when it comes to Government they have not given us anything and the programme is working,'' Mr. Simmons said.

He added that the Wood Shop still owed creditors, such as SAL and the Bank of Butterfield, and wanted to pay them as soon as possible.

Health and Social Services Permanent Secretary Donald Scott said when the Wood Shop's proposal was put to the Ministry, it was thought to be a request for one-time assistance to help stabilise the programme this year.

"We did indicate that we would be prepared to look at it since Dr. Terceira was inclined to do so,'' Mr. Scott explained.

"We can't be definitive as to how much we would be able to financially assist them. We still have about two months until the end of the fiscal year. And we indicated we would look at what was left over from December.

"So over the course of the next two weeks we will be able to know how much we can give.'' Meanwhile, Wood Shop organisers have invited Premier Pamela Gordon, Works and Engineering Minister C.V. (Jim) Woolridge and Mr. Edness to tour, on Monday, the job sites of former prisoners in the programme.

"The walk will entail seeing the quality of work that is done and hearing first hand from the clients who are giving us work,'' Mr. Simmons said.

"We want them to hear what the community has to say.'' The group plan to start at the old Sugar Cane hotel at 2.30 p.m. where Wood Shop workers dug out from under an apartment and built a room and hallway from scratch.

"The guys worked there for four months and the lady who they worked for, Loretta Hassell, ended up counselling and just about adopting two of the guys,'' Mr. Simmons said with pride. "In fact, one of the guys calls her Mama Hassell.

"She also put a lunch programme, which was suggested by Mr. Hill, in place some seven months ago.'' He explained that the programme allowed the men to enjoy an inexpensive lunch without leaving their job site.

Mrs. Hassell also helped the former prisoners manage their funds.

Mr. Simmons said: "She worked out bus passes and then started putting their money aside for them so they could get their tools.'' The group will also visit the old Darrell and Seaman building on Middle Road, Smith's Parish which the Wood Shop recently renovated and 200-year-old Lucas Hall in Devonshire where they restored the cedar panelling.

PRISON PRISONERS JAL