Shawn Pinder’s story is more than a tale of crime and punishment—it’s a powerful narrative of transformation, forged in the crucible of incarceration and fuelled by an unwavering commitment to change.
Once a young man from a notorious family in St Philip, whose very name evoked fear, Pinder’s life took a dramatic turn after a manslaughter conviction. But behind bars, he discovered the tools to rewrite his future, emerging not just as a free man, but as an author, publisher, and mentor who inspires others to find hope in the darkest of places.
Convicted of manslaughter in connection with the death of Arden Puckerin on August 26, 2004, Pinder’s early life was marked by turmoil and violence. His path seemed set for despair. Charged with murder and remanded on September 2, 2004, his trial only began years later, on January 22, 2010. On April 30 that same year, he was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 15 years’ in prison on June 2, 2010. Yet, his time in prison extended to 18 years before his release in 2021.
Today, Shawn Pinder stands as a changed man—a beacon of inspiration who used his time behind bars not as a dead-end, but as a beginning.
While incarcerated, Pinder, a father of three, made a remarkable decision: to transform his pain into purpose. Through phone calls to multiple secondary schools across Barbados, including Deighton Griffith Secondary School, Princess Margaret Secondary School, Parkinson Memorial, St George Secondary, Queens College, and The Lodge School, he shared his story with scores of young people. His message was clear and heartfelt, born from experience: “Prison’s like a gigantic library,” he would say. “If you want change, you can find change, but for you to find change, you’ve got to look deep in yourself.”
His speeches extended beyond schools to churches and community groups in Christ Church, where he inspired youngsters to consider paths away from crime and towards self-worth. He also wrote essays for UNICEF focusing on child abuse, highlighting paedophilia as “the worst crime to humanity”—a stance reflecting his commitment to protecting the vulnerable.
That journey of self-discovery was not easy.
“The hardest part in life is looking at yourself,” he said. “Perception—how you think about you, how you feel about yourself—that’s the battle. I never thought I would write one book, let alone eleven.” His first published work, Consequences, emerged from a conversation with Sergeant Ryan Phillips.
“He gave me the full scope and pen and things, sent me to the office, read my writing, smiled, and said: ‘Ah, Pinder, we’re writing a book, about being incarcerated.’”
The book, published under his own company, A Breath of Fresh Air Publishing, was a collaborative effort within prison walls.
“The people that work at G-Building assisted me with paper, pens, and encouragement,” he explained. “Grenville Phillips came in to talk about construction and small business and gave me enough supplies to help along the journey.”
The discipline required in prison was immense. Shawn described how officers encouraged his educational efforts.
“I started reading it, then going back to class, learning English, computer skills—and just started writing quickly.”
This learning process was more than academic; it was deeply personal.
“You’ve got to be respectful, but respectful of the self,” he said. “When you enter prison, you have to reprogramme yourself. You’re in a different environment; you must obey the rules if you want to survive with a strong mind.”
His writing was not limited to his own story. Pinder saw prison as a space for reflection and growth.
Consequences—which took him three to six months to write, often in five-minute bursts—is more than memoir. It is a philosophical exploration of time, choices, and redemption.
His dream extended beyond the pages. After his release, Pinder registered A Breath of Fresh Air Publishing.
“It’s my dream to be my own editor, to run everything, and to help others tell their stories.”
Reflecting on his prison experience, Shawn revealed a remarkable openness to change.
“People come home from jail and believe everyone’s the same, but everyone can change,” he said. “It’s about how much you want to change, how much you really love yourself.”
This belief underpinned his efforts to reach out to the youth.
“To the young boys out there doing lawlessness, I can tell you, after almost two decades, it’s not worth it. Life is about impact—the impact we leave on those following in our footsteps.”
Shawn’s transformation was neither overnight nor without hardship.
“Who loves to be incarcerated?” he asked rhetorically. “But sooner or later, reality sinks in—this is all there is. Then you look within yourself and see if there’s more.”
Books like Conversations With Self by Nelson Mandela were a guiding light.
“That book was amazing, so many possibilities,” he said. “I just started writing short stories, whatever came to mind.”
His advice to those facing similar challenges is grounded in lived wisdom.
“People always talk about the next move, but you’ve got to sit down and study your best move. It’s not necessarily the next move, it’s the best move.”
For Shawn, hope and faith are central.
“You’ve got to believe in some kind of higher power—Jesus, whoever your creator is,” he said. “You’re wonderfully and gratefully made. That belief helps you ask, ‘What is my purpose here?’”
Today, Shawn Pinder stands far from the fearful shadow of his past. He is a father, an author of eleven books, an inspirational speaker, and a publisher committed to uplifting voices often unheard. His story is a testament to the power of self-belief and the possibility of redemption.
“I’m proud,” he said softly, “to say after all the trials and tribulations, something good has come from my life. That’s the difference I want to make—to be the difference.”
He thanked everyone who had a role to play in his rediscovery and encouraged him to use the pen to transform his life.
sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb
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