Police and Prison Officers are participating in a three-day workshop on addressing Juvenile Justice Reform and proposals contained in the Draft OECS Child Justice Bill which is presently receiving the attention of Government for enactment.
The training Workshops and sensitization sessions are sponsored under the OECS/ USAID Juvenile Justice Reform Project (JJRP) and convened in partnership with the Ministry of Social Services, Family and Gender Affairs and the Ministry of Justice, Immigration and National Security.
“The Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force places emphasis on training of its members and as a consequence we embrace training opportunities that have the potential to build capacity within the force,” Officer in Charge of Operations, Superintendent Richmond Valentine said while addressing the opening ceremony of the workshop held at Police Training School in Morne Bruce.
According to him, the training programme is designed to sensitize the participants on the content of the Child Justice Bill, “so that you will be acquainted with the necessary protocols and guidelines when dealing with matters involving juveniles.”
Valentine said further, the Bill provides a new framework for children who come into conflict with the law, “and so as the premier law enforcement agency on the island the role of the police is significant as it relates to enforcement when it becomes a law.”
He mentioned that the participants present there at the workshop have been selected from the wide cross section of the force.
“And so there is no doubt in my mind that the sessions will be very interacted,” he stated.
He wished participants success in the three days of training.
The workshop is being facilitated by Magistrate Gloria Augustus, Technical Specialist under the OECS/ USAID JJRP and Leonard Terrance, Deputy Director of Bordelaise Correctional Facility in St. Lucia.
Now they can go looking for the prisoner from pte Michel who escape months ago, who is walking the streets of pte Michel, and Roseau laughing at the prison Warden and his officer, playing catch me if you can on his little scooter.