Help and Shelter alarmed over committal of Mocha girls to NOC

Help and Shelter alarmed over committal of Mocha girls to NOC
-calls on human services minister to have them moved
Thursday, August 9th 2007
Stabroek News

Help and Shelter yesterday said it was alarmed that the two runaway Mocha girls were committed to the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) stating that the practice of committing abused children on the charge of wandering to an institution for juvenile offenders "is a travesty of justice as it heaps additional abuse on those whose fundamental problems stem from abuse and neglect."

In a statement the group called on Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Priya Manickchand, to take immediate action to have the girls moved to a more suitable environment where they will have access to counselling and other appropriate services in keeping with their "basic human rights and in their best interests as children" The group, a non-governmental organisation, said such a move by the minister will confirm her position that she was abolishing the offence of wandering in recognition "it is assumed" of the fact that child abuse and neglect are major contributing factors to "delinquency, risky behaviour and sexual and other forms of exploitation, including trafficking in persons."

The organisation also reminded the ministry of the findings of the Children and Violence Project, which was coordinated with UNICEF Guyana in 2004-2005. The report, titled 'Children: Experiences with Violence' stated that the majority of the children spoken to in NOC had experienced serious and frequent physical and emotional abuse at home and the abuse often contributed to the events which led them to being committed to the NOC. Further, according to the group, the report said some of the children were running away from abuse at home and a few girls had become involved in exploitive relationships with older boys and men. "In more cases, care givers reported to the police that the child was delinquent and the child was subsequently committed to the NOC," the statement said. The report said it is "questionable whether it is really in the best interest of most of the children committed for 'wandering' or for petty crimes to be sent to the NOC."

A call was also issued to parliament and ministries and agencies charged with responsibility for the NOC and the juvenile justice system to review the system and the institutions that fall under it so as to bring both into compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Guyana is a signatory. The organisation said that while it stands committed to assisting the two girls, the ultimate responsibility lies with the human services ministry, the law enforcement agencies and the courts.

Permanent Secretary Trevor Thomas on Tuesday told Stabroek News that the ministry will continue to support the girls. The girls were sent to the NOC last week Friday by Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys and since the order was passed questions have been raised about whether detention at the centre was suitable for the 13 and 14-year-old girls. Concerns have been voiced that the three-year committal may make the girls susceptible to negative influences. Both girls are motherless and pleaded guilty to wandering. Both had said, in court, that they were sexually abused.

Their plight engaged the public's interest after they were handcuffed and led through the village and then had their hair cut in public, on the instruction of the female police officer who had arrested them. The police have since launched an investigation into those allegations. Magistrate Gilhuys on Tuesday said that he had no other alternative but to send the girls to the NOC as it is the place provided, by law, to send teenagers who are involved in certain activities. When he was asked if he could reverse his decision if the human services ministry provided alternative arrangements for the girls he said his decision has already been handed down and he could not reverse the sentence.

He had also pointed out that the ministry had ample time to indicate to the court, via the probation officer who presented a report at the sentencing, that an alternative to the NOC was available. Magistrate Gilhuys also commented that the NOC provided the ideal environment for deviant youths and that the environment is conducive for inmates to learn a trade.

He said he is convinced that when the girls leave the location they would be better individuals and could easily be integrated back into society.