Saint Lucia: Saint Lucia Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment informed the general citizens of Saint Lucia about the three wards’ escape from the Boys Training Center facility last week, following which they returned to the centre on Monday, 27 March 2023.
According to a Boys Training Center Facility official, two of the wards voluntarily walked back into the facility, and the authorities captured the third one. In addition, four of the wards also escaped from the BTC by passing through a hole in the fencing last February, said reports.
Furthermore, the officials also added that the two wards returned to the facility a few days after escaping, among which one was brought back by a relative, and the other was brought back by the Police.
Meanwhile, the BTC official quoted, “Two of the wards who returned were part of the original five who absconded; the two were missing. So out of all those who absconded, one of them was a first-timer.”
As per the sources, the Police have charged one of the escapes with escaping lawful custody, and it is expected that the other two wards to be accused of similar offences later, and the two wards will remain in charge for a longer time.
The officials also provide brief information that the absconding of the four youngsters has renewed and raised public concern over BTC security arrangements at the facility, reflecting that official assurances need improvement.
In regard to this, The Ministry of Equity and Social Justice has also continued in its efforts to establish a juvenile rehabilitation centre. The location selected for the facility juvenile rehabilitation centre can be identified as the former George Charles Secondary School.
Notably, after the incidents, several top Government officials have toured the facility with donor agencies, including the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
