Masara Resort at Katouche Bay has been the venue this week for an Art of Living Seminar which began on Sunday, February 16. It was facilitated by Mr Dushyant Savadia, an Indian national and trainer residing in Jamaica.
The seminar was for inmates and staff of Her Majesty’s Prison, personnel in the Department of Social Development, and youth and community leaders. The event was sponsored mainly by Her Majesty’s Prison in conjunction with the North Hill Community Action Group and supported by Government and private and civic groups. It was locally organised by Rev Lindsay Richardson, Chairman of the North Hill Action Group and Prison Counsellor.
The Art of Living Foundation, founded in 1981, is a non-profit, non- religious, educational and humanitarian non-governmental organisation established in 153 countries worldwide. It places much emphasis on the Sri Ravi Shankar philosophy that “unless we have a stress-free mind, and a violence-free society, we cannot achieve world peace.” Some of the reported benefits of the exercise-type courses include reduced stress, enhanced health and wellbeing, more joy and enthusiasm, improved relationships and benefits to the immune system.
Rev Richardson said the seminar was an effort by him to find something new and different for the people with whom he works. He was delighted to have found Mr Savadia to conduct he seminar.
Mr Savadia is a full-time International Programne Director for the Art of Living Foundation. He said that in the past thirty-two years the Art of Living Foundation, through its service, initiates workshops to more than 380 million people including people in conflicts, inmates who have been victims of crime – and other circumstances such as lack of education and lack of proper upbringing. Savadia joined the Art of Living Foundation thirteen years ago. Prior to that he served as head of Xerox for the whole of Southeast Asia and was based in the United States.
Mr David Carty spoke on behalf of the North Hill Community Action Group. He said in part: “This week there is a whole new dimension that is being added to our quiver: a new kind of arrow – something that seems kind of strange. We also think of dealing with this issue as re-enforcing the law, strengthening the police, raising the penalties, or as other very well intentioned and hard working groups are dealing with in terms of social issues and victims of violence. But this is a new dimension. This dives into people’s innermost physical being – how our bodies and our minds can relieve the stress and the violence that plague us. I think it is a great new dimension and I hope it will bear fruit. I am glad that Rev Richardson and the North Hill Action Group can be a part of this along with Her Majesty’s Prison.”
Mr Allister Richardson, Head of Custody at the prison, said the seminar “came at a time when negative emotions, thoughts, attitudes and actions have taken over our once peaceful and tranquil way of life.” He called for every effort to be made to halt this downward trend and to achieve harmony, unity, strength and peace in homes and communities. He stressed that the prison was not the answer to all the problems affecting the island, but that positive hearts and minds were among the pillars of nation-building.
Mr Richardson advised all Prison Officers attending the seminar to take full advantage of it and to bring about effective change – not only in the difficult prison service, but in their homes and communities. He disclosed that due to stress and assaults over the past two years the prison experienced a loss of 1,500 work days through sick leave of prison officers and over a dozen resignations.
Mr Conrad Gumbs, Superintendent of Prison, said the above information was only part of the consequences of the levels of stress that prison officers were experiencing on a regular basis. “The risks that prison officers face to keep inmates within the prison fence, and the wider society safe, always go unnoticed until something badly goes wrong. Then we are faced with another level of stress; criticism from members of the public and the fear of dismissal from those having authority over us,” he said. “I hope that this workshop will assist us in coping with the stress we face while carrying out our daily responsibility on behalf of our island.”
Mrs Candis Niles, Director of Tourism, said tourism was the lifeblood of Anguilla’s economy. “There isn’t a single person who lives in Anguilla who doesn’t find in one way or another that his or her life is not touched by tourism. Our statistics tell us that 65% of Anguillians are employed in the tourism industry. Another 15% or so is added indirectly. Where will we be if tourism dives to a halt?”
Mrs Niles pointed to Anguilla’s marketing slogan, “Tranquillity wrapped in Blue,” but lamented that “today that vision is being threatened in a major way by what is happening amongst our young people.” She emphasised that “we have to respond because in responding we are protecting not only life and limb but a way of life for future generations.”
She hoped that persons in the community would be able to assist in shaping the minds of the young people in Anguilla, in a way that the good in them could be seen, and that they could be encouraged to live positive and productive lives thus contributing to a violence-free and peaceful society.
