The Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States and the United States Agency for International Development (OECS/USAID) have granted approval for the commencement of phase two of the Juvenile Justice Reform Project.
In phase two of the project, the Ministry of Social Services must have in place two main facilities for children in conflict with the law in order to enact the Juvenile Justice Bill; a secure residential facility and a place of safety for children.
Speaking at the first ever ‘Forensic Interviewing’ training on child abuse and neglect on Tuesday October 4th, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Services, Family and Gender Affairs, Careen Prevost, divulged that developments are already in the pipeline for establishing these facilities and enacting the bills.
The Permanent Secretary told stakeholders at the workshop that the social services ministry has already produced a proposal and is currently in search of a location for a secure residential facility.
“Operation Youth Quake has already received support from USAID under JJRP1 and we are looking at how we can incorporate Operation Youth Quake as a place of safety. But a place of safety for children who are in conflict with the law would be different from a secure residential facility which would be where children are sentenced to as opposed to being in the prison system; so we are working on these things,” she assured.
Prevost informed that the ministry will soon conduct public sensitization of the family bills to inform the community about the rights of children, juvenile justice and sentencing.
She continued that the ministry will also present the options that will be available once these bills are enforced.
At the next sitting of Parliament the Revised Sexual Offences Act will be tabled followed by the Maintenance Bill.
I am sincerely hoping that recognition will be given to an area where the Kids at Risk who having been identified early will be placed in a program which encompasses the restoration of discipline and Morale ethics especially among our juvenile and young persons. Some years ago collaboration between the Church; Youth Division and Police Force saw a program put in place where troubled youth were subject to two weeks training and support in order to correct such ills in our society. The Courts got on board and gave it their blessing; this was an opportunity for central government to take up the challenge and run with it; rather all was lost somewhere along the way. Too much lip service has been give to this phenomena it’s high time for real positive action.
Use the USAID money, but don’t emulate their criminal justice system. The US justice system is just a huge warehouse for Black and Hispanic people.