George, who owns a music production company, was crowned the 2019 Soca Monarch in August. However, based on his apology on Friday, George had breached his 7:00pm to 6:00am curfew to participate in the winning competition. This was the crux of his apology to the Parole Board.

This public apology attracted a lot of questions about George and the parole process in the Territory, and as such the Monarch decided to host a live discussion to explain the situation and offer insight into the process.

He explained that the discussion was aimed at sharing ideas and solutions that may improve the Territory’s parole process, and possibly increase the success rate by preventing repeat offending.

“This live is about solutions; I ain't banging the parole system,” he stressed.

In the candid discussion, George said that he is not embarrassed to state that he was incarcerated, as he said that it is a part of his journey.

“At the end of the day, that’s a story that the father bless me with. I’m glad I am still here, alive and able to tell it; so take it like it come, if you want to judge me you could judge me. I really don’t care.”

The musician said that he is speaking on the subject to not only educate the public on the plight of persons released, but to also assist persons currently serving time to understand the transition.

“It’s been eight months roughly since I’ve been home, almost, just about, and I just want people on the inside know how the transition was, how it’s been moving thus far.”

He said that his transition has had a lot of positives because he is steering clear of negatives. “We been out here grinding, working real hard to come out of where I was.”

In his chronological mention of the process, he started his story from the point of his release.

“I was in my cell and them man came to me and said Morning Mr. George, I need you to pack your things because your parole has been approved...Everybody watch TV, you know how the rest does go, almost the same thing. Upon this you’re issued a license…For me it was a curfew and the inability to travel unless it was an emergency or something like that…My curfew was 7:00pm to 6:00 in the morning.”

George emphasized that he does not have an issue with the curfew aspect of his parole, but noted that he is trying to find a balance, because the hours make it difficult for his line of work.

“I didn’t have an issue with the curfew, my issue was with the inability to form some sort of strategy to have me be able to work…my work is music. I could do other stuff…but I am totally submerged in my job, my craft. This is what I do for a living…What we trying to figure out here is how we can formulate a plan.”

In noting how he believes the system can be better improved, George said that there should be transitional support. This, he said, would help to prevent reoffending.

In using himself as an example of how such support would have assisted, George said, “If I was granted the system of help from the prison, or from an outside entity that [said well okay], Ramon you getting parole, you will have a curfew…but we’re offering work…maybe from 6:00 in the morning to 4:00pm. I didn’t have that. We don’t have that.”

George further noted that by ‘we’ he is referring to himself and the other persons that were incarcerated.

Further, George hinted that the problem of transition is compounded by a stigma about persons who served time at the prison.

“Everybody tries to isolate or exile us because you know you fall, and you make a mistake, or whatever the case may be…What I am saying is what happen to offering help. So, before you offer me help, you looking down on me, talking me down, denying me of the ability or chance.”

In sharing more about his own transition, George said that even though he has a business, when he came out he had the usual challenge to get settled.

“When I came out, to set up myself I had to go find apartment – basically pay bills.” He further noted that this may be much more difficult for others who have children and may have child support payments pending.

Meanwhile, George said that he is staying on the positive path and has been sharing his story, hoping that it would help persons in the Territory.

“I been a lot of places. I been to the MALE programme. I scheduled to be at the college October 1 and 2…I been around trying to do positive things in the community since I came home”