Pody Mae Dawson Prison Matron presided over Her Majesty’s Prison for over thirty years.

Dawson, a prison matron and a senior prison officer responsible for manning the female officers, and inmates in the women’s wing at Her Majesty’s Prison, said she prides herself on being someone who was “fair” and believed that people needed to be treated with respect- notwithstanding the fact that they are incarcerated.

The upward arc of her career which started in 1976, led her through a diverse string of duties including, training and maintaining her staff with accurate and timely record keeping with reports and schedules for the facility.

Short in statue and speaking with a commanding pitch in her voice, the stern looking but kindhearted matron has been encouraging and giving hope to the remanded and convicted who faced years of separation from their loved ones.

“I was the only female at the time; working on three shifts, seven days per week up until 1977 when two other females joined. I only had the time to refresh myself and back on the job. Everywhere I went with the keys, I couldn’t leave my female inmates with the men (male officers). It was really hard but I put my energy into it,” added a seemingly protective officer.

Dawson, a mother of five, emphasized that on her passion caring for people traces back to her earlier days in her homeland of Jamaica, where she was employed as a ward attendant in a hospital, caring for the physically challenged and elderly. Known for the caring person she was, Dawson landed a job opportunity in the Virgin Islands in 1974 as a caretaker for an Octogenarian.

Two years later, Dawson was asked by a friend - former Prison Keeper, Errol Hall to assist with guarding the women’s wing of the prison. Staffing at the facility has varied over the years, pending on inmate population.

“He went to the police and told them that he needed someone to fill the position and they told him to get someone, that’s how I ended up in this profession. After he persisted, I took up the offer and he provided me with a small bed. Those days we had only one or two inmates, sentencing was rare in those days.

Inmates would be confined for at least two to three months if they did not pay a fine,” she recalled.

As weeks turned into months and months into years, life at the correctional institute became more demanding and perilous.

Placed among inmates serving several years for serious crimes raging from theft, drugs, burglary, fraud and murder, the 62 year-old grandmother’s only weapon of defense was a wooden baton which she never had cause to use.

Being home away from home, Dawson developed a mentorship, and as a mother figure, earned the respect of her inmates who gravitated to her many counseling sessions and countless hours of consolation.

“The most important thing is having influence over them, everyone respected me. I introduced them to the bible and showing them they can be a better person. They are human, and should be treated equally. I always want to care for people and show them the way, some of them fall short at home so they look for love and care, I was able to give them”, she assured.

On a quite and relaxing Sunday afternoon, Dawson during a lengthy interview shared with Stand Point some of her treasured moments at the institution where she spent most of her life – a well documented one, which was archived in an old grip.

Photos, newspaper clips, textbooks, and scores of matron journals dated back to the seventies were kept in a safe place.

Dawson, scanning through artifacts for evidence to support her past, stumbled upon memories of the 2004 prison riots, “a very frightening experience”.

Pausing between thoughts she thanked the Lord.

“I was caught in the middle of the male and female section. When I looked around all the other officers ran and was already on the outside. I was not aware of what was happening. Inmates throwing stones and smashing up the vehicles, one of them demanded the keys from me. I had to plead the blood of Jesus on him before he backed down. The police were called in and everything was back to normal,” Dawson stated.

She disclosed that upon receiving her first four months of introductory training in 1982, she focused on reaching further in the profession.

Dawson funded her correspondent courses in report writing and supervisory courses, which earned her credits from the Kentucky University in the USA.

“I bought ten textbooks and studied them and they are very expensive,” she added as she dug through her collection.

The Senior Prison Officer retired last February after preparing her very own training manual. Within one month she was called back to her job to train her successor. After serving in the capacity for another year, Dawson pulled down the final curtains on her career last month when members of the Prison Fellowship awarded her at a farewell ceremony. She was also awarded for her years of service at the public service recognition last year.

The ailment-free Methodist, who enjoys playing the guitar, said it was a job well done to the best of her ability.

“When I read the numerous letters and postcards accompanied by telephone calls, gifts and jewelry, I get very emotional. I had to leave without telling them, it would be a sad experience to tell them face to face. I still keep in touch with even my past inmates in Grenada and Dominica,” she concluded in a sad voice.

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