Boys smoke weed in YTC

YOUNG males being housed at the Youth Training Centre (YTC) at Golden Grove are using off-site visits to smoke marijuana instead of pursuing studies, learnt Parliament’s Joint Select Committee (JSC) on Human Rights yesterday.

JSC chairman Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly asked why only seven boys are enrolled in Metal Industries Company (MIC) programmes outside of the YTC, out of 81 boys housed at the YTC.

Ministry of National Security permanent secretary, Vel Lewis, in reply lamented that the number of boys studying had actually fallen.

“The challenge is really one of security more than anything else in taking them outside of the centre.”

Deputy Commissioner of Prisons Dane Clarke elaborated. “The numbers have fallen from seven to four actually. The programme started in September 2018 and at the end of November we had several instances where the boys were found with marijuana. On the last occasion the young man was taken to the police station and arrested and subsequently charged for possession of marijuana. "So at MIC, despite the supervision we are seeing an inclination to involve themselves in the drug trade and whatever and that poses a security risk to the staff that go out there with them. As you have heard, staff are being threatened once they are out there.”

Clarke said talks amongst stakeholders including Lewis had concluded that it might be better to have MIC bring their training services in to the YTC rather than youngsters leaving the compound. Twelve girls stay at another section of YTC at Golden Grove.