By Kurt Campbell
[www.inewsguyana.com] –Opposition Member of Parliament Christopher Jones has called on the Minister of Culture and Youth Dr. Frank Anthony to ensure that the public is made aware of what led to the unrest at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) in 2012.
Jones has also demanded that the Minister provides the public with the measures which has been put in place to prevent the same from recurring and both inmates and caregivers who are found culpable to be dealt with.
“Why the secrecy” he questioned while pointing to the $30M which was allocated in the National 2014 Budget for the completion of confinement building and construction of a fence and walkway for the NOC.
He was at the time making his contribution to the National 2014 Budget Debates in the National Assembly on Tuesday, April 01.
“Even though it is public knowledge that these works are due to the unrest at the facility in 2012, the taxpayers who have to front this bill are still awaiting the report from the Commission of Inquiry that was set up to examine the circumstances that led to the break out, the fires and destroyed buildings and to make recommendations” Jones said.
The Minister had promised the final report by the end of February while stating that any staffers found guilty of abuse when the report is presented, will be dealt with accordingly.
To this end, Jones questioned why the delay. He added “there are countless reports by former inmates of the NOC of the abuse that they have endured during their time at the institution.”
He said what is even more alarming is the fact that the caregivers at the institution are the persons allegedly involved in those practices.
The APNU MP reminded that the NOC is a correctional facility that provides opportunities for rehabilitation of those inmates.
