CABINET approved the establishment of the Juvenile Justice Committee which will support the implementation of legislations that will include diversionary programmes.

This was disclosed by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, on Friday at a post-cabinet press briefing. He said that the committee’s implementation is in accordance with section 82:2 and 83:3 of the Juvenile Justice Act.

Further, Minister Harmon said this will also ensure compliance with the required standards set out in the child’s rights convention and its supporting guidelines.
He noted that the committee will be chaired by William Boston along with 11 other members and will serve for a period of one year.

The Juvenile Justice Act 2018 will transform the delivery of juvenile justice and minimise the criminalisation of youths.

The Act aims to amend and consolidate the law in relation to criminal justice for juveniles and make provision for proceedings with respect to young offenders and provide for the establishment of facilities for the custody, education, and rehabilitation of these offenders.

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. It also decriminalises offences such as truancy and wandering, and deal with issues of youth sentencing. The Act is also aimed at providing a framework where professionals are in the forefront, supporting juveniles rather than the police and prison wardens.

Back in January this year, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, appointed William Orrin Boston as Director of Juvenile Justice, who will now head the Juvenile Justice Department at the ministry. This appointment was made on January 2, 2019 in accordance with provisions made under Section 76 (1) of the Juvenile Justice Act 2018. The commencement order bringing the Act into operation was gazetted on October 10, 2018.
In a release, the ministry had said the Act confers on the director among other things, the responsibility of organising and supervising custody, education and rehabilitation of juveniles. The director is also expected to advise the minister on policies and procedures related to the operation of the Juvenile Justice System.

The Juvenile Justice Act 2018 spells out new rights and protections for juvenile offenders. The newly-appointed director is assisted by two deputy directors, both of whom will help in fulfilling the mandate outlined in the Juvenile Justice Act 2018. They are: Attorney-at-law Ms. Joan Ann Edghill-Stuart and Child Activist Mr. André Massiah-Gonsalves.

Boston has served over fourteen years in senior management positions at both local and multi-national institutions, including the Rights of the Child Commission (RCC), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the National Insurance Scheme.
Ms. Edghill-Stuart is an attorney-at-law who is grounded in civil law. She has served as State Counsel at the Ministry of Legal Affairs, and Legal Counsel & Child Advocate to the Child Care & Protection Agency.

Massiah-Gonsalves has over a decade of experience in human rights, child protection and juvenile justice. He is a policy analyst who has served at the Ethnic Relations Commission and the Rights of the Child Commission. The Juvenile Justice Department will be fostering skills development, rehabilitation, addressing treatment needs, and the successful reintegration of juveniles into the community. These are all critical elements for the maintenance of public safety.