Government is seeking to change the image of the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) at Onderneeming on the Essequibo Coast by creating new opportunities for the inmates such as writing the CSEC examination and being involved in various sporting activities.
A release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said that there are plans to improve the image and erase some of the stigma attached to the institution which was established in the 1970s as a correctional facility for boys but now houses both males and females.
The inmates have been involved in a number of sporting activities including netball, volleyball, tape ball cricket, table tennis, athletics and female football. For the first time a female team, under the name Fearless Flyers, will be competing in the three-day netball competition in Georgetown and recently its coach, Laurence Kellman and the members met with Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony.
According to the release students from the NOC were part of the ministry’s day-of-interaction in Essequibo which was aimed at promoting social interaction through sports. It was in July of this year a $50M infrastructure rehabilitation project commenced on the administrative building and dormitories at the institution and it is expected that the administrative building will be equipped with computers for Information Technology (IT) training. Also, learning opportunities for students have been created through collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
