Three wards have escaped from the Boys Training Centre (BTC), and the authorities are seeking their return.
The latest escapes reported on Wednesday bring to five the number of boys missing from the facility.
Last month, four wards absconded, and two subsequently returned – one of them brought in by his grandmother.
The escape of the four youngsters renewed public concern over BTC security, prompting official assurances that things would improve.
But even before that, police had charged a fifteen-year-old BTC ward with the murder of 78-year-old Marcellina Alexis.
According to reports, the teenager had earlier escaped from the BTC.
However, Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, and Empowerment officials have observed that the BTC is not a maximum security institution but a centre for young men primarily needing care and protection.
Minister for Equity, Social Justice, and Empowerment Joachim Henry told a news conference last month that the long-term intervention was a new juvenile centre.
In this regard, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved using the former George Charles Secondary School for that purpose.
AGAIN?????
No one is Concern about Security in St.Lucia.The Minister Believes its a joke with
Young Criminials but it’s not.one is Still at Large and three others join Forces with Him .I am positive None of their parents will bring them in
.Their photos Should be posted on Social Media .If that was being Done they Would think twice before escaping or walking out of the Facality
Lacking Security at the BTC. Lacking Security measures at Secondary Schools. Smh.
For those who condemn and chastise the BTC it should be noted that that place is not a prison, plus how would you expect to send criminals at care and protection facility, a facility designed for housing boys for care, what you think would happen, stop sending criminals there.
Where is the 863 million dollars the previous government borrowed? Why didn’t they do something with the BTC?
Again I am asking how many passports were sold during the reign of the previous government.
The system is completely broken and no one can do anything about it. The kids are allowed to leave wonder and returned when ever they so desire. Fire everyone with immediate effect. Pure nonsense going on here. Only collecting tax payers money to run jamets and make bomb.
This has become an absolute joke. You will hear this week 2 escaped, then next week 4 escape. What will it take for those in charge of this institution to get that place in order?????? So much bad publicity but yet no one cares to make the required changes which are long overdue.
If the residents can come and go as they please you might as well give them the keys – for honestly this is an embarrassment and a crying shame for St. Lucia and this system for real. One young man left out some time ago and murdered an elder in the comfort of her own home.
You would think this would have caused an awakening of the leadership to revisit and or examine their protocols, policies and procedures. Since then, more residents have escaped – this is beyond shameful to say the least.
Clearly, this facility is not secure or adequately staffed with qualified professionals – only God knows what is going on inside???????
The Minister in charge is on sick leave as a result of the church doing him Mal. The Senior leaders at the BTC is clueless and looks like their hands tie behind their backs. Are y’all trying to change this facility to: Breeding Tomorrows Criminals (BTC)? Question I ask.
What’s this facility? It looks like Escape and Evasion School.
The one and only answer, on first day of entry – whip some sxxes –
On reentry after escape – whip axxes twice over, with a warning, worse next time.