On a directive from President David Granger, Social Protection Minister, Amna Ally, whose Ministry is now responsible for the New Opportunity Corp (NOC), has announced that five females of the NOC ranging from ages thirteen to sixteen have received pardons.
The release of these individuals will be effective from September 15, 2017.
They five females in turn thanked Ally and asked her to convey their appreciation to the President. She encouraged them to keep on the right path.
Ally, whose Ministry was given charge of the institution by President Granger in the early part of 2017 from the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport of the Ministry of Education, touched on some institutional changes and developments which are to be implemented soon during a meeting held at the facility on Wednesday.
In the light of the recent breach at the institution where juveniles had escaped and subsequently recaptured, the need to heighten security was addressed with efforts to rectify those breaches in the shortest possible time.
Structural improvements to the facility was another matter which was highlighted with construction and renovations to commence before the end of 2017. Ryan Baichu, Principle Assistant Secretary (ag), along with engineering consultants took a walk through to put things in place for these structural developments.
NOC staff members present at the meeting indicated that the implementation of additional staff would greatly help to alleviate the challenges which the institution presently face.
According to a statement from the Social Protection Ministry, movements are afoot to address this issue.
Ally during the meeting brought to the fore programs which the institution would have implemented to help with the reintegration of juveniles back into society.
The Minister was given an overview as to the successes of these programs and future plans to keep the youth gainfully occupied as they develop different vocational training and skills. These programs include information technology, agriculture, welding and fabrication, catering, sewing, electrical, joinery, and steel pan.
The NOC recently partnered with the State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA) to train some of the youths from the institution in information technology. Additionally, the youths from the institution will be displaying their handiwork at a booth during the On Show Guyana festivities being held on September 29, 2017.
Ann Greene, Director of Childcare and Protection Agency, who was present at the meeting indicated the need for the young people to have foundational learning in literacy and calculations. The Regional Executive Officer, Rupert Hopkinson, in light of this point was given the task of sourcing two teachers in the interim to carry on the foundational learning programs; a building to conduct these classes was also identified.
According to the Ministry, the NOC is on its way to become a fully self-sufficient institution as it maintains not only different livestock such as cows, sheep, goats, chicken and swine but farm lands with crops such as callaloo, ochra, cabbage and bora; which not only help with the catering classes but with the feeding of those in the care of the institution.
