The Westgate Correctional Facility GED graduating class of 2008 are incarcerated only in the physical sense, as the sky is the limit for their dreams and abilities.

Sixteen students recently passed the exam, but only nine were present at the graduation ceremony held on July 17.

They were Rasool Ebbin, Jahcai Morris, Saje Nearon, Joeshun Russell, Orion Thomas, Adrian Whitecross, Stephen Andre Wilson, Curtis Hawksworth, Keino Lambert and Disney Smith.

The others, who could not attend were Jason Darrell, Patrick Dill, Michael Jones, Devario Whitter, Joshua Boorman and the late Lorenzo Robinson.

Mr. Robinson, a paranoid schizophrenic, was found hanging in his cell only a few days before the graduation.

His aunt, Sybil Robinson, was on hand to accept his certificate on his behalf.

Speaking to the graduates was Senator Marc Bean, Acting ACOC of Westgate Shannon Hollis, Commissioner of Corrections Lt. Col. Edward Lamb and Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing Lt. Col. David Burch.

The welcome was delivered by Jahcai Morris, Jose Diaz asked for a moment of silence for their "fallen soldier" Lorenzo Robinson before praying, the Westgate Choir, led by Rev. Burgess performed, Saje Nearon introduced Senator Bean, while Orion Thomas read the introduction, and the thank you was given by fellow student Disney Smith.

Relatives and friends came to congratulate their loved ones during this milestone event.

Senator Bean encouraged the graduates to be independent in their thinking when they are released from prison. He suggested that rather than seek employment; they should look into becoming entrepreneurs and take the opportunities available to them in prison to truly effect lasting change in their lives.

He pointed out that opportunities for beginning businesses were available through the Bermuda Small Business Development Corporation. "You have made a choice and I emphasise a choice. In life there is an old saying that you reap what you sow, and by your decision to pursue your education, you have planted the seeds for the quest for knowledge," said the Senator. "Today you have started to reap the fruit."

In addition, he said it was through character and conduct that lives are rebuilt, no matter what they had did in the past.

"When I mention character and conduct what I am saying is, 'as a man thinketh, so he becometh, brethren, as you thinketh, you becometh' —

"In other words progress spiritually, mentally and physically. The fool is the person who repeats their mistakes and the wise is the person who learns from his or other's experiences and the person who chooses wisely in the midst of temptation chooses the path of wisdom."

Mr. Bean added: "You chose to submit yourselves to the discipline of study, to hopefully bring improvement to your life in a material, mental and spiritual way.

"I know that it was not easy and nothing of value in life comes easy. The Lord has given every person natural abilities, so that you can help yourself and others and it is by these talents that you should find your life's purpose.

"Education is meant to harness those abilities and talents."

Senator Bean encouraged the men not to become discouraged once they are released from prison and to look for their lives.

"On your release, I encourage you to become entrepreneurs," he said.

"In this light, the Government supports you. Too often people get released from prison (begin) looking for a job and usually it is not forthcoming.

"This leads to discouragement and brings the question as to why you got educated in the first place."

He added that if self-employment was not their dream, there were other opportunities available for those who were prepared to continue with their studies.

"If it is your will and your desire, then all of you have the power to transform society, but one has to transform ones own self, because you cannot give what you do not possess."

Lt. Col. Lamb and Minister Burch presented the certificates to the GED graduates.

Rasool Ebbin, Jahcai Morris, Saje Nearon, Sybil Robinson for her nephew Lorenzo, Joeshun Russell, Orion Thomas, Adrian Whitecross, Stephen Andre Wilson, Keino Lambert and Disney Smith were all greeted with applause as they received their GED certificates. Curtis Hawksworth received his high school diploma from the Lighthouse Christian Academy.

Stephen Andre Wilson thanked his teachers for their tireless energy that they gave not only to him, but the other inmates as well.

"They encouraged us and I would like to thank them," he said.

"On a personal note, I want to thank my sister Veronica Philips and Marion Tucker who have bestowed unconditional love, in spite of the disappointment that I have been to everybody."

Two additional presentations were made, one to Orion Thomas who received the highest GED score of the graduating class, while Keino Lambert who also received one of the highest grades.

The Westgate Choir then made several awards to their choirmaster Rev. Burgess for his time and dedication and to Minister Burch for putting the choir together.

Rev. Burgess said: "I remember when I came home from university and I was teaching and counselling at Casemates and, at that time, I was not a Christian and I remember that at that time I told them that you are lucky to be locked up.

"They thought I was crazy, but in life I found that there are two times in life when an individual could do some thinking, one when they are sick on their deathbed and two, while they are incarcerated. Because most of the time on the outside, you are busy going about sometimes doing nothing. But with this time, you have the time to think like you have never thought before.

"And I just love here being with the brothers and I was doing this even before I was a chaplain."

Other awards were presented to teacher and education officer Mrs. Wilkinson for all of her hard work, belief and dedication, and to Pauline Butterfield, who headed the department.

Mr. Thomas then addressed the audience and his graduating class.

"We the class of 2008 endeavoured upon a journey to obtain our GED and along this journey we have shown commitment, dedication and tenacity," he said. "We all maintained steadfast focus. Today we share our success in the quest of excellence. Allow this accomplishment to become a catalyst in all your future endeavours."

Acting Assistant Commissioner of Westgate Shannon Hollis added: "When Mrs. Wilkinson passed on the names of the graduates and I saw that Lorenzo was one of them, I made a point to go and see him and congratulate him and to tell him that I can't wait to see him receive his certificate. And in true Lorenzo fashion, in his deep voice, he said, 'yeah'."

He then extended to congratulations to the teachers, the families that had come to support.

"You are here in the good times to lend support, but I encourage you to be there in the bad times when these chipmunks do something that disappoints you," he said.

"They are still going to need your support, so I just want to encourage you to be there in the good times and the bad and those disappointments, I'm sure will lessen and lessen until there are no more disappointments.

"To the graduates, you have built a foundation and you have proved to your loved ones and your friends that you can reason, problem solve, rationalise — it is all up to you now. My wish is that when I see you on the outside, and I am going to see you on the outside, that you are going to be giving me good reports, 'I am at the College, going night school, at Adult Education or in some sort of apprentice programme, and you will never see me on the other side again'.

"You have made the step and you have shown everyone that, in adverse situations, you come out shining."

Lt. Col. Lamb thanked all the staff at Westgate, the Minister, Senator and family and friends, as he said everyone has worked together to help these fellows.

To the graduates he said: "It is right that we stand here and recognise what you have achieved.

"It is right that we say that you are important enough to have an elaborate occasion, as moments like these hopeful of what we can achieve and moments like these make me very proud to be commissioner, and moments like these make me fully affirm in my conviction that we have to believe in our charges and I am no more important or less important than any other man or woman.

"But moments like these make me proud when I look at these handsome, intelligent young men and I think we should all be proud.

"This is just a juncture in the journey a small station in the train track of life."

He then offered a quote from the 30th US president, Calvin Coolidge: "I am a come from nothing, a half breed come from nothing, but it is where I am going that is important."

Lt. Col Lamb told the audience that he was raised by a single mother and achieved in spite of hardship.

"Nothing can take the place of persistence! Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent," he said.

"Perseverance and determination alone is omnipotent and all powerful.

"Press on my brothers."

Lastly, Minister Burch said that he believed, as a Bermudian black man, that everyone could be saved.

"I know that not to be so, but it is not for me to identify those that choose not to be saved," he said.

"It is my job today to do whatever I can with the responsibility that I currently have to support our people where they are.

"I have a wide responsibility and it is means opening the arms and encouraging and uplifting everybody, especially those that have made a mistake.

"I congratulate you on your success.

"No matter where you end up, you are coming back out to live in this community with us, we can't forget you for the time that you are up here and hope and pray that you have learned something and changed.

"This is a beginning; use it as a stepping stone to get to exactly where you want to go."

Graduate Disney Smith delivered the thanks.

"This GED is one step closer to my higher education and a better future, and for this I am eternally grateful," he said.