‘Bridging the Gap’ to the outside world...

For Kendrick Zuill, ‘prison life’ has revolved around learning new skills to get a job once he gets out.

The 37-year-old was jailed for nine years in 2012 for his role in plotting to smuggle $860,000 of drugs into Bermuda.

And when the cell doors slammed shut at Westgate, he had never considered a career as a chef.

But within months he had signed up for a culinary course through Bermuda College and found himself cooking three meals a day for the entire prison population of over 160 inmates.

Zuill went on to become the prison’s head chef, but has continued to pursue alternative trades through a work-release programme with WEDCo.

He told the Bermuda Sun: “For me it’s about having as many options open to me when I get out of here.

“I had never set foot in a kitchen before coming here, but I have now completed two-thirds of my credits for a culinary art class.

“And I have learned carpentry, plumbing and other maintenance skills with WEDCo.”

Zuill, who is eligible for release next year, was one of several dozen inmates to attend the ‘Bridging the Gap Reintegration Fair’ at Westgate this week, which is designed to help prisoners find work once they return to the community.

He said: “This initiative provides us with a lot of resources and access to people with information about what is available to us on the outside.

“I have spoken to the people from Bermuda College today to find out what I need to do to complete my culinary art course.

“It gives us guidelines and ideas of what we can achieve when we are released and that’s very important. Some people say that prison has no resources, but that’s not true.

“The programme helps give us hope for the future and a direction to follow.”

The ‘Bridging the Gap’ event on Wednesday was open to around 100 inmates from Westgate’s medium security units.

And it gave inmates serving life sentences as well as shorter terms the opportunity to meet with agencies that one day may provide them with employment in the outside community.

Kyle Sousa, who was jailed for his part in the murder of Matthew Clarke nearly seven years ago, spent time talking with representatives from the Butterfield & Vallis group.

Sousa, 23, told the Sun: “It gives me some kind of hope.

“Getting a job is something to look forward to and this event makes it become more of a reality.

“I want to put the past behind me and do something constructive.

“We are still human and I am looking forward to one day starting up my own business. I have been in prison for more than six years now, and it has taught me that even though we make mistakes we can still come out strong men.”

Anthony Swan, 26, who was jailed for 12 years for shooting at Raymond ‘Yankee’ Rawlins in 2009, also attended the Bridging the Gap fair.

He said: “I have spoken to the Bermuda Hospitals Board, Butterfield & Vallis and Bermuda General Contracting Services today.

“I want to keep my mind expanding and keep my options open.

“An event like this takes on a different kind of importance to me because it shows that these people who have come in here and take time out of their busy days still care about us and have an interest in us.

“It speaks volumes to the love that parts of the community still have for those inside these walls,

“And it means people still believe in us and we can look forward to something else.”

Fellow inmate Randolph Simons, 49, added: “I have got a lot of strength and support from this programme. It provides us as prisoners with opportunities for the future that we need to take.”