JUVENILES on remand and rehabilitation, who previously were detained at various police stations across the country, will now be ‘accommodated’ at a spanking new $37.6M Juvenile Holding Centre, that was officially opened yesterday by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee at Lot 2 Dennis Street, Sophia, Greater Georgetown. Minister Rohee, during his feature address at the opening ceremony, said there has been the need for a Holding Centre for Juvenile Offenders, away from the Police Stations, as a place of detention.

But for this need to be satisfied or met, he said it was necessary that the Juvenile Offenders Act (Cap. 10:03) be amended to provide for the necessary changes and the establishing of a Holding Centre designated as a place of detention.

Under the Juvenile Offenders Act, Cap. 10:03, the Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for the remand of juveniles under order of court.

After several years of careful thought, Rohee said action was taken to construct the Holding Centre following a Cabinet decision.

Rohee said the government, through his ministry, has decided as a matter of policy that juveniles from age 10 and over, but under the age of 17, who have come into conflict with the law are not to be detained in the same manner like adult offenders.

Towards the realization of this approach, Rohee said he tabled in the National Assembly a Bill that eventually was passed and now known as the Juvenile Offenders (Amendment) Act No.18 of 2007.

This Act embodied the provision for “reception and custody” of four (4) types of children and young adults. To be exact, the Act made provision for the insertion of a new section 20A in the Principal Act Subsection 1 of 20A which states that:

“The minister may establish and maintain as many centres
as may be necessary as the Holding Centres for Juveniles
for the reception, care and custody of children and young
persons under the orders of the court or for any other
appropriate reasons as the minister may determine.

Rohee said the Holding Centre at Sophia is one of these centres that will be established in Guyana to provide for the detention of juveniles.

“While I am aware that this Holding Centre may not be a grand substitute for the home, it will nevertheless provide care and attention to the juvenile offenders that may be lacking in some homes in Guyana,” the minister stated.

Rohee said the Holding Centres for Juveniles shall provide for the reception and custody of the following children and young persons.

(a) Juveniles awaiting their court appearance
(b) Juveniles who have been committed by the courts but not escorted to the New Opportunity Corps.
(c)      Juveniles who have completed the period of their sentence and awaiting rehabilitation to their families or to the community.
(d) Such other category of Juveniles as the minister may determine.

Rohee said the above arrangements are, to his understanding, the physical accommodation for the young offenders.
Therefore, the amended Act further provides that:    “Every Holding Centre for Juveniles to which a child or young person is sent by a court, may in addition to providing such child or young person with accommodation, maintenance, healthcare and facilities of education or
vocational training and rehabilitation, provide facilities for the development of his character and abilities and also give him necessary training for protecting himself against moral danger or exploitation and shall also perform such other functions as may be prescribed to ensure all round
growth and development of his personality.”

In order to facilitate this, Rohee said it is his expectation that the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport – with the expertise of their social workers – could play a role in the operation of the Holding Centre by offering counselling and advice to the juveniles and their parents and close relatives.

He said these minimum standards must ensure that the services provided are within a physical environment that lends to a peaceful atmosphere, in which the young adult can indeed feel a sense of caring on the part of those who would be administering the Holding Centre.

“As I have mentioned earlier this Holding Centre at Sophia is but one of such centres that the Government through the Ministry of Home Affairs may construct in Guyana. This Centre must therefore be a ‘show piece’ that must provide excellent service and administer its operations in an efficient and effective manner,” he declared.

On this note, Rohee expressed optimism that there would be no complaints from neither the administrative staff nor inmates.

CENTRE LONG OVER-DUE
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Henry Greene, who made brief remarks, said the Sophia Juvenile Holding Centre was long overdue since juveniles ended up at various police stations.

The Top Cop added that remanded youths and those from the New Opportunity Corp (NOC) will be housed at the facility which will be manned and secured by 13 ranks under the supervision of Head, Juvenile Holding Centre, retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Paulette Morrison.

Greene stated that the opening of the centre signals the singular achievement of a place of holding for juveniles where they will be cared for.

Giving a description of the project, Superintendent of Works, Fiaz Khan, told the gathering that in 2008, the Ministry of Home Affairs earmarked the construction of the centre which was awarded at a cost of $31.3M and work commenced on June 18, 2008 and was completed in October 2008.

He said the dimensions of the building are 60 feet by 38 feet, comprising  the ground and first floors, with each floor having four dormitories, a dining area, an office and a toilet area.

Mr. Khan noted that, over the period, other works were done such as strengthening of the building, fencing, the ceiling of the roof, the installation of lighting fixtures and revetment and grillwork.

Morrison, in her remarks, said it is known that children get their behaviour from their families and their environment and what people do not realise is that children are born with some tendencies that they are not totally responsible for.

She said, “We who have the knowledge of child development would be able to demonstrate an understanding of who they are individually, what are their specific and physical needs, emotional and psychological needs and, socially, we will work towards finding solutions to help them.”

Ms. Morrison added that no child is bad but these tendencies develop through neglect, difficult constraints, deprivation and lack of education on the part of the parents also through negative influence.

She said, “We at the centre will try with the help of all our partners and resources made available and we would apply strategies that will help curb those behaviours by demonstrating love, patience, understanding and make a positive deposit in their lives.”

Ms. Morrison explained that after they would have touched their lives they would go back into society and make wise and right choices.
She also extended gratitude to the UNICEF representative, who was absent from the event, for their meaningful contribution.