KINGSTON, Jamaica — State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Pearnel Charles Jr has signalled his intent to encourage the Diaspora to support the Department of Correctional Services’ “We Transform Programme”.

The programme, according to a release from his ministry, seeks to rehabilitate and re integrate over 200 youth offenders in the island’s four juvenile remand centres.

The state minister made the statement after receiving an award for his outstanding contribution to the programme by Donette Jones, Senior Director, Human Resource Department at the Ministry of National Security recently.

The programme, conceptualised by Charles Jr, forms part of the Ministry of National Security’s five pillar crime reduction strategy focused on rehabilitation and redemption.

“I am pleased when former juvenile offenders are empowered, re-habilitated and re-integrated to contribute to the development of our Jamaican communities, as they refocus their lives. I pledge to continue to advance the efforts of the programme and in my new position as foreign state minister, to coalesce the Diaspora around this important youth empowerment and national development initiative,” Charles noted.

The minister expressed that the We Transform Programme continues to be the flagship programme of the Ministry of National Security.