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MP denied access to NOC

May 29, 2014 News

By Latoya Giles
Even though Culture Minister Dr. Frank Anthony has emphatically stated that the New Opportunity Corps is not a “closed institution” A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) Member of Parliament Christopher Jones has been denied access to visit the facility.
Jones, who spoke to Kaieteur News yesterday, said that he had made an oral request to the Culture Minister several days ago to visit the NOC. He explained that he was informed by the Minister that he should make a written request, which was done.
Last Tuesday, Jones said he received a response from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alfred King, outlining that his request was denied.
“The Ministry recognizes your continued interest in the NOC, but we cannot accede to your request at this time, but rather to a date in the near future”, the letter stated.
According to Jones this denial raises grave concern since the Minister, the Permanent Secretary and caregivers had categorically stated at a recent press conference that there’s nothing to hide. “What is restricting a Member of Parliament from visiting the institution”, Jones questioned yesterday.
He said that besides his shadow position which deals with culture, youth and sport, his geographic responsibility is the Pomeroon Supenaam.  Jones further explained that he had intended to visit the institution along with five other colleagues from the Party.
“We were going to look at the children and speak with caregivers, we had also intended to look closely at the “quiet room” and have a firsthand assessment”, Jones said.
Because of the denied request, Jones opined that it is clear that the Ministry has something to hide at the NOC.
Jones insisted that the matter will not rest and that they intend to have Parliament intervene. “Our concern is all of the students at the NOC ever since the revelation came out”, Jones said. He maintained that parents who still have children at the NOC are still complaining, thus the request to visit the NOC was made.
Within the last three weeks several allegations have surfaced from the NOC about caregivers committing sex acts on teenagers. Parents have come forward and told harrowing stories about sexual abuse.
Jones had told Kaieteur News that his Party was in the process of preparing a dossier which would be sent to various international organizations.
“One dossier will be filled with statements of the children and the Government of Guyana’s inaction to deal with these matters”, Jones explained.
Opposition Leader Brig. David Granger had said that his Party had no confidence in the capability of the Ministry of Culture, to administer the New Opportunity Corps.
Granger had proposed that the responsibility of the Corps be transferred to another Ministry or agency that possesses the requisite personnel and skills and is better prepared to tend to the lives of juveniles sympathetically.
Last week Jones had made a call to Government to have the caregivers at the New Opportunity Corps undergo lie detector tests.
Jones told the media that a threat by caregivers has since silenced the girls, as they are now withholding certain information.
“All caregivers should be subject to lie detector tests and if they fail, they should be dismissed,” Jones said yesterday.
Jones maintained that his Party will do all in its power to ensure that the girls do not return to the NOC.

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