GEORGETOWN, Guyana--Eleven young mothers who were imprisoned for minor offences will be reunited with their families this Christmas.
President David Granger announced that he will pardon the women this year and will carry on that tradition in the coming years.
“I don’t see why a 19-year-old should be sentenced to 14 months in prison for stealing a cell phone,” he said during the interview programme “The Public Interest” which was aired on television.
“I know there are other factors, but I intend to do this every Christmas for young mothers and every Independence Day for young persons.”
In May this year, Granger pardoned 60 prisoners between the ages of 18 and 25 who were serving time for minor, non-violent offences.
“We hope to ensure that when young persons – boys and girls – are released from jail, they get an opportunity to attend some rehabilitative training, so they don’t become convicts and go to jail again,” the President said on the television programme.
He added that he hoped those who benefited from the opportunity would go on to make a meaningful contribution to their country’s development. ~ Caribbean360 ~
