The Caribbean Umbrella Body for Restorative Behaviour is the first and only Caribbean network of interested persons and non-profit associations working to assist and support criminal offenders, ex-offenders, crime survivors, correctional officers and their respective families as well as alleviate poverty, reduce crime and transform the Caribbean community.
We are a growing entity with 7 founding members and numerous affiliate organisations. CURB sees each affiliate as an important component in the process of transforming the Caribbean region. Every "joint" in this "Body" has something unique and essential to supply to the others and CURB is committed to do all within our ability to promote and empower both founding members and affiliate organisations to accomplish all that God has destined for them.
A full listing of the founding members of and organisations affiliated with CURB is available Here.
A brief profile of each of the Founding Members of CURB is outlined below:
FOUNDING MEMBERS OF CURB
New Hope Prison Ministry
The New Hope Prison Ministry was established in Trinidad and Tobago by Mr. Richard Barker who was the leader of the feared Vikings gang in Trinidad and Tobago. He received a prison sentence of 13 years and 6 strokes with the cat-o-nine in 1975. After 3 months in prison he heard a supernatural voice calling him to repent and he immediately underwent a spiritual transformation.
While still an inmate at Carrera Island Prison, Mr. Barker started New Hope Prison Ministry to encourage inmates to change their lives through Jesus Christ. He received an early discharge in 1981 soon after which he returned to prison but this time as a spiritual counsellor to inmates.
The New Hope Prison Ministry has served the Trinidad and Tobago community by reducing crime and re-offending, creating model citizens, mediating in community disputes and providing effective prisoner aftercare. Mr. Barker has travelled to several Caribbean territories sharing his experiences with prison officials and prisoners alike.
For further information about the activities of this member organisation please Contact Them.
Academy of Business and Computing
The Academy of Business and Computing was established in Trinidad and Tobago by Mr. Clyde Haynes who received a prison sentence of 12 years in 1974. While incarcerated at Carrera Island Prison Mr. Haynes obtained his 5 Ordinary level subjects and 2 Advanced level subjects.
A week after his discharge in 1982 he was admitted to the University of the West Indies and obtained his B.Sc. in Economics in 1986. He worked as a teacher at a secondary school from 1986 until 1990 when he established his own private secondary school - the Academy of Business and Computing.
Mr. Haynes led such an exemplary life since his discharge that he received favour from the President of the Republic Of Trinidad and Tobago in having his criminal record expunged. Several high-level prison officials (with whom he had been working for several years to establish a proper school system in the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service) supported his application to the President.
In addition to his responsibility as a school principal, Mr. Haynes serves as Co-ordinator for the Education Programme for all inmates within the prisons. He has recently been named to a Cabinet-appointed committee to determine the best way to implement the parole system in Trinidad and Tobago.
For further information about the activities of this member organisation please Contact Them.
Alpha and Omega Prison Ministry
Alpha and Omega Prison Ministry was established in Trinidad and Tobago by Mr. Collins Rosales who received prison sentences totalling 35 years in the 1970s and was scheduled to be discharged in 2003!
During his three years in solitary confinement at the Carrera Island Prison, Mr. Rosales began to read the Bible and eventually surrendered his life to Jesus Christ and was transformed in 1976.
A contemporary of Richard Barker, he too began a prison ministry while still an inmate, forming the Alpha and Omega Prison Ministry at Carrera Prison.
In recognition of this transformation, he was given a presidential pardon in 1983 and was asked by the prison authorities to return as a spiritual counsellor to inmates after only 8 days of freedom.
Mr. Rosales has taken numerous courses to enhance his abilities as a counsellor and has spoken at innumerable churches and for a within and outside Trinidad and Tobago, leading many persons to Christ.
An ordained minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Mr. Rosales also works with the Ministry of Education in Trinidad and Tobago as a lecturer to young people at Servol Centres nationwide.
For further information about the activities of this member organisation please Contact Them.
Woman Thou Art Loosed Foundation Lk. 13:12
Woman Thou Art Loosed Foundation Lk. 13:12 was established in Trinidad and Tobago by Miss Claudine Henry who received a death sentence in 1988 becoming the first woman to be sentenced to hang in Trinidad and Tobago.
In 1989, while in her cell at the Women 19s Prison, she overheard a gospel message and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and was spiritually transformed.
Although still sentenced to death, she received a divine promise that she would be released and eventually won her appeal against conviction and sentence in 1998.
Since her discharge, Miss Henry has spent the last few years doing voluntary work in her local community of Carenage and assisting female ex-prisoners.
She has developed strong ties with several prison ministries in Trinidad and Tobago and has devised a plan to assist female prisoners with employment so that they can assist their families financially though still incarcerated.
For further information about the activities of this member organisation please Contact Them.
Vision on Mission
Vision on Mission was established in Trinidad and Tobago by Mr. Wayne Chance who had received a prison sentence of 8 years. While in prison, he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ and experienced a radical spiritual transformation. Together with others, he conducted religious education classess in the prison with other inmates and is the first inmate to be ordained while incarcerated.
Following his discharge from prison, Mr. Chance soon became an activist against crime, gaining the support of the then Attorney-General of Trinidad and Tobago. He began to lecture to young persons at secondary schools around the nation, warning them against the evils and consequences of crime and lives of drugs and immorality.
Through Vision on Mission Mr. Chance provides a halfway house for ex-prisoners and their families as well as job placement and other services for ex-prisoners.
He is a well-known television and radio personality and has gained the support of many prominent citizens in law enforcement and the business community, several of whom sit on the Board of his organization. Mr. Chance is also a successful entrepreneur, owning and operating the Caribbean Bake and Shark Company Limited - a popular fast food business that specialises in Trinidad and Tobago cuisine.
For further information about the activities of this member organisation please Contact Them.
Transformed Life Ministry
Transformed Life Ministry was established in Trinidad and Tobago by Pastor Glen Awong, a former drug addict who received multiple prison sentences. While in prison, he received Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour and his life was transformed.
Following his discharge from prison, Mr. Awong became an ordained minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and embarked upon a mission to aid the poor and destitute.
Through Transformed Life Ministry, Pastor Awong provides a halfway house for ex-prisoners and their families as well as job placement and other services for ex-prisoners.
For further information about the activities of this member organisation please Contact Them.
Evans Vision and Sound Ministry
Evans Vision and Sound Ministry was established in Trinidad and Tobago by Mr. Bernard Evans. Since 1999 Mr. Evans has been working with the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service to aid in the rehabilitation of lads at the Youth Training Centre and inmates of the Golden Grove and Frederick Street prisons.
A businessman in his own right, Mr. Evans operates a furniture making and upholstery business and has also embarked upon a programme to teach furniture making, upholstery and micro entrepreneurship at two of the prison stations in Trinidad and Tobago. Inmates who successfully complete his course are certified by his school and assisted in finding jobs upon their discharge
Evans Vision and Sound Ministry visits five of the seven prison stations in Trinidad and Tobago one day per week to highlight spiritual, moral and social issues (e.g. sexually transmitted diseases, family life, anger management, deeper life and spiritual life) through popular theatre, videos, audio, community programmes and seminars. In this way, the Ministry positively impacts the lives of hundreds of inmates and further provides them with spiritual ministry, counselling and prayer and also with job placement assistance upon their discharge.
For further information about the activities of this member organisation please Contact Them.
