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NOC Commission of Enquiry…Inmates and staff finally interviewed
The investigation into the violent breakout at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast, is finally heading somewhere.
After being stalled for a while to facilitate the replacement of the Chairman of the Commission of Enquiry, the interviews of inmates and staffers of the juvenile detention centre has finally been completed.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport, Alfred King.
This was according to member of the commission, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport, Alfred King.
King explained that the interviews lasted about two days and that the commission is in the process of putting together a summary which will later be evaluated to determine the findings. He could not say how long this process will take.
The Commission of Inquiry is now being headed by Winston Moore, following the resignation of Prem Persaud.
A few months ago, a number of youngsters, ages ranging from 14 to 16 went on a violent rampage, storming through several communities while being armed with cutlasses and other weapons, in a bid to escape from the Juvenile detention facility.
After the incident which resulted in the destruction of parts of the facility, including the female dormitory and a workshop which were set afire, inmates and staffers gave their statements.
It was as a result of these controversial statements that a Commission of Inquiry was set up.
Inmates had claimed that they were being abused by staffers, and that they had reached breaking point. A senior Ministry official had however stated that none of the juveniles made any such allegations to the team which visited the centre shortly before the escape.
The Board of Inquiry currently includes Alfred King; Senior Superintendent and Divisional Commander of ‘D’ Division, Christopher Griffith; Senior Probation Officer of Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Trenetta Scott and Mr. Maydha Persaud, a retired headmaster and member of the Teaching Service Commission.
Of the 48 inmates who had appeared in court following the incident, eight were charged with arson, and 40 were arraigned for escaping from a training school. Thirty-six of them were male.
Thirteen of the juveniles pleaded guilty to escaping from the NOC, while the remainder entered not guilty pleas.
Sixteen of the inmates were remanded to the juvenile facility in Georgetown, while the other 32 were returned to the NOC.
Minister of Culture Youth and Sports, Dr. Frank Anthony has assured more than once that should any staffer of the facility be found guilty of abusing the children, they will be dealt with accordingly.
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