Truancy among other infractions to be struck out of law

─ Juvenile Justice Bill was passed in April 2018

─ wandering and truancy to be removed from the laws of Guyana

─ in its current form, the act reflects international justice standards in keeping with the Beijing Rules, the Riyadh Guidelines and the United Nations Convention on the rights of the Child – Chief Magistrate

DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, October 2, 2018

The Juvenile Justice Act 2018 will transform the delivery of juvenile justice and minimize the criminalization of youths. This is according to Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan.

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan addressing the participants of the Juvenile Justice Sensitisation Session.

Participant during the question and answer segment of the Juvenile Justice Sensitisation Session.

Participant during the question and answer segment of the Juvenile Justice Sensitisation Session.

Participants of the Juvenile Justice Sensitisation Session held at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown.

Participants of the Juvenile Justice Sensitisation Session held at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown.

Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan responding to questions during the Juvenile Justice Sensitisation Session with stakeholders.

Participants of the Juvenile Justice Sensitisation Session held at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown.

UNICEF’s Country Representative, Sylvie Fouet addressing the participants of the Juvenile Justice Sensitisation Session.

On Monday, the minister addressed a media sensitization workshop at the Marriott Hotel. According to Minister Ramjattan, the commencement order for the Juvenile Justice Act is before the Attorney General Chambers. He also said that there are moves apace to construct special magistrates’ courts and other appropriate infrastructure, hire and train specialist staff and make other preparations for the operationalization of the Juvenile Justice System.

“All of these things are so important to ensure the actual realization of this juvenile justice regime which we see will transform the shape of our children’s justice here in Guyana. I need not remind you that indeed this Act incorporates the international guidelines from Riyadh and Beijing. Those were two places that they had two major conferences and a lot of recommendations came out that modernized juvenile justice,” Minister Ramjattan explained. 

Meanwhile, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, in an analysis of some provisions of the act, said in its current form the act reflects international justice standards in keeping with the Beijing rules, the Riyad Guidelines and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. When commenced, the Juvenile Justice Act will remove offences such as wandering and truancy from the laws of Guyana.

“Once that act comes into place, the Juvenile Offenders Act will be repealed and the training school act sections 15,16 and 26 will be repealed and also provisions in the education act will be repealed and the parole act also has some sections which will be repealed. It has also amended sections 2,7,9 and 11 of the Probation of Offenders Act and the schedule to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.”

The Juvenile Justice Bill was passed in April 2018. It seeks to address infractions of the law involving juveniles from a standpoint of reformation and diversion. 

Kidackie Amsterdam.

Images: Giovanni Gajie.