With all the concern over recent crimes and the increasingly younger age of those committing them, the one-year existence of Miss Lalie Centre (see related story) should not go unnoticed.
Until 12 months ago a big problem with the local correctional system had been the lack of an adequate youth detention facility.
As a result, also minors, including first-time offenders, would end up at the Pointe Blanche prison among hardened criminals. The prevailing wisdom was that they went in as amateur crooks only to come out as experts.
The complex in Cay Bay can handle a maximum of 18 male residents. While that’s obviously not enough in the long run, certainly when needing to cater to clients from St. Eustatius and Saba as well, at least a start has been made.
One should note that it’s not just about locking youngsters up, but also caring for and rehabilitating them based on an individual treatment plan under the guidance of professionals. The inmates are taught skills based on the social competence model that they can use in life to prevent falling back into the same trap after their release.
It is a bit early to evaluate its effectiveness properly, but there seems little reason to doubt that the centre is serving the purpose for which it was created. All those involved deserve to be congratulated on this first anniversary of helping to combat youth delinquency by providing boys who have ended up on the wrong path with a real opportunity to make significant changes and still become law-abiding productive citizens who contribute to society in the future.
