Georgetown : The long awaited and ground-breaking Juvenile Justice Bill was passed last evening during the 87thsitting of Parliament.
This law will improve synergies between organisations and agencies dealing with juvenile justice, in accordance with Guyana’s international treaty obligations and ushers in a new milestone in the nation’s journey towards Juvenile Justice Reform.
The Bill, Minister Ramjattan explained, covered the legal actions that could be taken once juveniles committed an offence, and gives those committed or incarcerated a second chance to redeem themselves. It was intended to fill the gaps identified by social services needs, for example, he further added.
“It also provided for community service among ‘diversionary measures’ instead of merely being placed in custody. The minister admitted that the government could not come up with the perfect Bill but stated, “This spent 14 years under the PPP administration and three years under ours. Why don’t we get on with it?”.
Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, SC, alluded to the measures in the Bill that speak to the mode of dealing with those juveniles found guilty of offences. Part 6, 42 of the Bill states that, “where a juvenile is found guilty of an offence under any law the finding of guilt shall not be recorded as a conviction.” He also announced the establishment of the legal aid clinic.
In her support of the bill, Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally noted that the measures will ensure access to facilities for the custody, education and rehabilitation for juvenile offenders, protect them from harm and increase their chances of a better life.
This is in keeping with Article 38 (B) of the Constitution of Guyana
The Social Protection Minister noted that some 70 percent of the juvenile offenders incarcerated at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) are merely products of their environments, facing problems such as poverty, family unit break up, lack of education, unemployment, peer pressure, lack of parental supervision, addiction, violence and abuse.
The Ministry of Social Protection, the Minister assured will play an integral role in positively changing the lives of children through guidance and counselling and the other alternatives to incarceration as listed in the Bill.
Her ministry will also commence work on the over 500 cases of juvenile delinquency and embark on capacity building of Non-Governmental Organisations with similar objectives.
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