The Government of Saint Lucia is making significant strides towards fulfilling its commitment to repurpose and retrofit the former George Charles Secondary School into a state-of-the-art Youth Services Centre for children, adolescents and youth in need of care and protection.
On September 24, 2024, Acting Minister for Equity, Social Justice, and Empowerment, Hon. Dr. Pauline Antoine, along with senior officials and key stakeholders, conducted a site visit to assess the progress of the project.
Dr. Antoine emphasized the importance of providing youth in need of care and protection with the necessary support. “We really want to have an appreciation of exactly what the structure will look like when it’s finished. We look forward to the completion of this building and the Ministry will do everything possible to ensure that the funding and logistics are put in place, to ensure that our children and our young people get a better of refuge to come, because as you know, we are dealing with children who are in crisis and who have been displaced etc.,” Dr. Antoine remarked.
Permanent Secretary, Dr. Charmaine Hippolyte Emmanuel, highlighted that the site visit was part of ongoing stakeholder engagement and decision-making processes, aimed at ensuring the project meets its objectives.
“We are excited that we are moving towards this goal post and that our objectives are being met in the sense that we continue to monitor what is happening, we continue to review our plans and of course we look forward to the actual commencement of the project. This is all in an effort to ensure that our youth, young people and adolescents will receive the best of services,” stated Dr. Hippolyte Emmanuel.
She further noted that the offerings of the Youth Services Center will align with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the Ministry’s overarching mandate to protect and empower the nation’s vulnerable populations.
For nearly two decades, successive governments have expressed the need for a Youth Services Centre, which will replace the current Boys Training Centre (BTC), the New Beginnings Transit Home, and the Upton Gardens Girls Centre.
The new facility will mark a significant step in improving care and support for Saint Lucia’s youth.
SOURCE: Ministry of Equity
