The U.S. Embassy in Port of Spain has provided financial support for the launch of Foreign Exchange, a barbershop in Diego Martin aimed at helping formerly incarcerated individuals reintegrate into society. The initiative is designed to increase citizen security by offering marketable skills and stable employment opportunities, which can lower the risk of repeat offenses.
The embassy partnered with Incarceration Nations Network (INN), a nonprofit organization, and the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service to establish the barbershop. The U.S. Embassy contributed $18,000 to fund barbering courses for 15 youths from the Youth Training and Rehabilitation Center (YTRC) as well as 10 adults who have been released from incarceration. The funding also covered essential equipment and supplies for the shop.
Foreign Exchange will provide free haircuts to members of the public while training formerly incarcerated people in barbering skills.
At the opening event, U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Charlie J. Franta III stated: “The U.S. Embassy is proud to support this initiative that makes America stronger by reducing recidivism. By providing career alternatives to formerly incarcerated individuals, we hope to reduce crime, improve citizen security, and make Trinidad and Tobago, and the Caribbean, safer and more secure.”
Senior officials from the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service attended the opening ceremony alongside representatives from partner organizations.