MC QUEEN: PARENTS ALSO HAVE TO UNDERGO COUNSELING

Social Services Minister Cuthbert Mc. Sween has warned that negligent parents would not be allowed to use the Grand Bacolet Center for Children at Risk, like a boarding house for their offsprings.

He made the comment during the weekly Ministers news conferences, which was held at the Botanical Gardens on Tuesday. The Ministry is currently making preparations for the commencement of work on the Bacolet Center, which is scheduled to begin next month.

It has been reported that the idea for the project came about due to the status of juvenile offenders who are given custodial sentences as well as those on remand awaiting trial. These offenders are all housed at Her Majesty's Prisons (HMP) at Richmond Hill along with seasoned criminals.

Statistics revealed that out of a prison population of about 340, there are close to 20 persons there who are within the age-range 15-18 years. Plans were to construct a Juvenile Center at Madigras, with preparatory work on the site already taking place.

The project which was expected to cost between $5 to $6 million has been shelved for the moment because government officials have said that funding is yet to be secured. It was for this reason that officials have decided to embark on an interim facility at Bacolet, St. Andrew's.

Minister Mc. Queen told reporters parents whose children are at the facility would be mandated by the Courts to attend counseling sessions so that they will have a better idea about how to deal with them when they are released. He stated that the facility would provide counselling, industrial training such as, Carpentry, Masonry, Joinery, Craft making, Plumbing, Agriculture, Academics and Sports.He also warned that adequate security would be enforced at the facility, which is aimed at preventing people from walking in and out freely.

According to Mc. Queen the involvement of the community through religion, sport and other activities will be encouraged, since the objective is to avoid total isolation of the children. Superintendent of Police former Prisons Commissioner Roy Raymond is responsible for the operations of the Center. He disclosed that very soon announcements would be made for persons to fill the different positions that will be available on completion of the renovation work.

The Center will cater for about twenty persons in the first instance and targets children at risk and juvenile offenders. Repair work is estimated to cost approximately $825.000.