ST JAMES, Jamaica (JIS) — Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, Rudyard Spencer, says he is impressed with positive outcomes resulting from the rehabilitation programme being administered for wards at the Hill Top Juvenile Correctional Centre in Bamboo, St Ann.   

Spencer, who visited the facility last Wednesday, said he was pleased that several of the boys housed there have been getting quality passes in the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC)/Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) external tests, noting that this demonstrates what can be accomplished when persons are fully focused.

“There are 27 wards here in-house (and) a number of them have been involved with the CXC…some passing five subjects…some doing six or seven subjects (which certainly) warms my heart,” he pointed out.

The State minister said everything he has seen at the Centre suggests that the youngsters are making tremendous strides in their quest to be rehabilitated, adding that they are on the right path.

Against this background, he said the boys should be supported to ensure they fulfil their true potential, thereby enabling them to become productive citizens of Jamaica.

“What I have noticed with them is that they have a strong leaning towards school. (As such) I am very confident that good things will come from these youngsters,” he added.

Spencer said he is also impressed with the Centre’s agricultural activities, and assured that he will be doing everything possible to ensure that the facility gets “all the required help to keep this wonderful (programme) going.”

For her part, Superintendent in charge of the facility, Faydene Ferreira, said Hill Top, which has the capacity to house 98 wards, offers several other vocations under the rehabilitation programme. These, she noted, include: auto mechanics, barbering and poultry rearing.

“These (youngsters) general do well… (as there is a lot) of potential here. Every child is different… (and) once they get here from the streets, there is a time for reflection. (Thankfully) we have an 80 per cent success rate of getting them rehabilitated and back into society,” she added.

The Hill Top Juvenile Correctional Centre, which was built in 1974, provides rehabilitation and training for boys, aged 14 to 17, who are deemed delinquent.