Young offenders will not be left behind – Min. Broomes

─ govt will ensure reformation programs are in place for reintegration

─ equality is for everyone and speaks to wherever you are

DPI, Guyana, Monday, May 13, 2019

“Our government is pushing a big youth focus… we have to prevent young persons from being incarcerated,” stated Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency, with responsibility for Youth Affairs, Simona Broomes, during a visit to the Timehri Prison.

The visit took place on Sunday, Mother’s Day.

Minister with responsibility for Youth Affairs, Simona Broomes speaks with young inmates at Timehri Prison, during a visit on Sunday.

The surprise visit to the penitentiary left the minister more than impressed with initiatives currently in place to reform the young offenders, whose ages range from 15 to 30 years old.

As the minister learnt, the youngsters have been given the opportunity to complete or begin academic studies in areas such as; Math and Literacy along with technical/vocational skills such as carpentry and joinery, agriculture, block making, barbering, culinary arts and cooking hygiene.

The prison also has sessions in drug abuse awareness and anger management, to help youths cope in their new environment, as well as deal with their emotional trauma which comes with committing a crime and being incarcerated.

There is also a one-off programme called, “stickamo try”. This new program, which is accessible online and used at some schools in the United States, aims to teach students positive ways to deal with situations such as self-esteem issues, anger management, goal setting, problem-solving and peer pressure.

Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Minister Broomes said her visit to Timehri was not only to spread a mother’s love to the young inmates but also to reinforce government’s plans, to ensure a proper and successful reintegration of these young people into society, after they would have served their sentences.

“Equality is for everyone and speaks to wherever you are” she stated.

The minister responsible for youth affairs reminded that President David Granger is concerned about the youth of Guyana and the issues which confront them, as is evidenced by his pardon of eleven inmates; nine females and two males, ages 13 to 17, from the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) last year.

With regards to legislation, she said the government has already moved on this, and the nation will see the results very soon. Adding that the historic opening of a Children’s Court will play a part in ensuring imprisonment becomes a last and rare resort for juvenile offenders.

Only last April, the Juvenile Justice Bill was passed in the Parliament.

Felecia Valenzuela.

Image: Kawise Wishart.

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