Minister of National Mobilization, Hon. Frederick Stephenson, said that the Juvenile Justice Reform is another program through which the Government is seeking to foster the positive development of the youth.
He made this statement during the Opening Ceremony of the National Juvenile Justice Phase Two Training Conference, which takes place on Monday and Tuesday 14th and 15th April, for a number of local and regional stakeholders.
The Juvenile Justice Reform System targets young people in the Eastern Caribbean, who have had to go through the Justice System.
It is being undertaken by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
Minister Stephenson said that 1.6 million dollars has been allocated to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for the development of this regional project, while the Government has also put 300,000 dollars towards the project. He said that when this program is fully implemented it is expected to become the central point for rehabilitation of youth who come into contact with law.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Mobilisation, Jasmine Hull, said that the Ministry has a mandate to provide social protection and social justice for everyone in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. She said that the Juvenile Justice Reform Project forms part of this mandate and over the next two days they would seek to adopt a harmonised regional approach towards the smooth implementation of this program.
SOURCE NBC
