Artistes, Stella Maris Church treat female prisoners

For the past 16 years, the Stella Maris Church has dedicated their efforts to treating Jamaica's incarcerated women, providing food, while accomplished local trumpeter Dwight Richards serves up the music.

"Tarrus Riley was featured last year," Richards told The Star. This time around, the ladies were treated to powerhouse jazz and cabaret vocalists Gem Myers and Karen Smith.

"Karen drove all the way from Montego Bay for this," he continued.

After a move from Fort Augustus, this recent staging makes it the first year that the treat took place at South Camp Road.

"They look forward to it every year. They were up [early]. They cleaned, they showered, they prepared themselves," said Superintendent B. Beverly Omeally.

But Myers and Smith were not the only slated acts.

Thick Christmas traffic delayed the arrival of Tony Rebel and Queen Ifrica. Though they were too late to perform, in the spirit of the season, the artistes were still allowed to meet and speak with the inmates.

The South Camp Road visit was the second philanthropic exercise for the Sweet Jamaica singer last week. Last Tuesday, the musician performed at the Pembroke Hall Primary School, before challenging Kingston traffic to meet the ladies.

"Because we didn't get everyone to fill in, we're going to plan another big one. In January, we're going to bring in some more artistes and start the year right with them," Richards shared.