The life-changing impact of the Right Living House programme run by the Department of Corrections was brought to the fore at the recent graduation of two former inmates.

An event, held during National Recovery Month in September, honoured David Hill and Ernest Smith, whose journeys highlighted the benefits of rehabilitation and the importance of second chances, a government spokesman said.

The graduation took place at the Co-Ed Facility in St George’s last Thursday and families of the graduates, staff and prison officials attended.

Mr Hill is employed with Butterfield & Vallis, where he contributes to warehouse operations, the spokesman said.

He also participates in self-help meetings to encourage others on similar paths.

Mr Smith is employed full time at Mid Ocean Golf Club, where he combines 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,” the spokesman said.

Established in 2020, the programme 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.

The spokesman said more than 80 per cent of graduates who complete the residential and aftercare phases of the programme remain in the community for three years or longer without re-incarceration.

This makes it one of the department’s most successful rehabilitation initiatives, he added.

Kim Wilkerson, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, who attended the graduation ceremony, 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.”

Speaking on the broader impact of rehabilitation, she said: “When we invest in programmes that teach responsibility, life skills and community values, we build safer neighbourhoods and give people genuine second chances.”

Keeva Joell-Benjamin, the Commissioner of Corrections, praised the determination of the graduates and the significance of the rehabilitation programme.

“The Right Living House embodies the Department of Corrections’s commitment to accountability and rehabilitation,” she said.

She added: “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.”

Ms Joell-Benjamin highlighted the role of family support in rehabilitation.

She said: “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 government spokesman said the event was one of several held to mark National Recovery Month.

It was observed internationally under the theme “Recovery is REAL — Restoring Every Aspect of Life”.