Last Updated on July 9, 2022, 4:46 AM AST by Anthony Morris
At a brief ceremony held on July 5 at the Ministry’s Administration Building Victoria Road, where the St Kitts and Nevis Bar Association demonstrated their dedication to the improvement of juvenile justice. The bar association aims to do this by recently donating entertainment items to the New Horizons Juvenile Rehabilitation Centre (NHRC).
The donation, which comes with three (3) smart television sets, two (2) portable radios, and one (1) tablet, will support the Center’s Reward and Sanctions Program, which gives residents rewards and incentives (such more television time) when they behave better or exhibit positive behaviours.
Director of the Policy, Planning & Projects Unit, Ms. Azilla Clarke, who presided over the ceremony, said that the NHRC believes that all residents should be aware that positive behaviour and constructive efforts to improve will be encouraged and rewarded in addition to the proper corrective measures in relation to safety and security.
The success of residents in their work and behaviour is evaluated in relation to their prior performance rather than that of other residents.
Mr. Garth Wilkin, president of the Bar Association, said that the Association was pleased to support the NHRC’s activities. According to him, “during our 2021 Law Week of Activities, we announced our official partnership with the New Horizons Rehabilitation Centre, a programme skillfully led by our Vice President, Mrs. Sherry-Ann Liburd Charles, who wanted to be here today but was unable to do so due to court commitments.”
The President continued by expressing gratitude for Mrs. Liburd-Charles’ tireless efforts in organising the donation as well as for the individual gifts made by Ms. Talibah Byron, Ms. Kurlyn Merchant, and Ms. Tashna Powell-Williams, members of the Law Council. He said that the Association supported the NHRC’s efforts to promote continuous and positive behaviour change and expressed optimism that the cooperation would expand in the years to come.
Ministry Permanent Secretary Mrs. Janelle Lewis-Tafari expressed gratitude for the kind gift and praised the Bar Association’s cooperative efforts. “Through cooperation, we are better equipped to pursue our objectives of youth empowerment and rehabilitation. It is intended that through promoting positive behaviours, we will give residents pro-social attitudes and skills that will stick with them long after they leave the Center and return to their individual communities as excellent people, she said.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
