(Trinidad Express) Wayne Chance, the founder and executive director of the non-governmental organisation Vision on Mission (VOM), has died.
Chance, who had been battling cancer for some time, passed away last night.
His wife and vice president of VOM, Giselle Chance, confirmed his death in a statement this morning.
She said words could not express the sorrow and loss she, her children and family feel at this time.
Chance founded VOM in 1995 while incarcerated. Five years later, the ex-offender rehabilitation centre was registered as an NGO.
It has since helped hundreds of ex-offenders reintegrate and resettle into society.
Chance has been an advocate for prison reform for many years.
His experience behind bars, his passion for improvements to the prison reform system and rehabilitating former inmates has made him a significant force in the country.
Those factors also led to his career in radio.
Chance was a talk show host on I95.5 FM’s Take Two programme and later created Project Hope, which dealt specifically with prison conditions and rehabilitation.
In a statement this morning, the Office of the Prime Minister said Chance was a citizen who saw a great need in our society and took it upon himself to do something positive about it.
“He fashioned and grew a response that helped many people and in doing so saved the nation from totally discarding many of those who ran afoul of the law and paid their dues after having been sentenced.
Mr. Chance was a leading light of useful activism and his passing leaves us saddened and impoverished. On behalf of the Government and a grateful people we join his family in giving thanks for his life and vision as we mourn his loss,” the Office of the Prime Minister stated.
