Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony yesterday confirmed that seven inmates of the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) escaped from the facility on Saturday.
“We had some persons who left on Saturday,” Anthony said yesterday afternoon.
The juveniles who escaped from Essequibo Coast institution, he explained, “are persons who attended school.” NOC, according to the minister, is not like “Camp Street prison” and allowed the inmates, who were attending school in the area before being admitted to the detention centre, to continue with the activity.
However, Anthony was unable to provide further details of the matter at the time. He did not respond when questioned about the number of juveniles who escaped from facility over the past month. “I think the group that escaped on Saturday was predominantly male,” he said, “but I really can’t say right now. I’m in a meeting and don’t have the file in front of me.”
The police are informed when inmates escape and when they are recaptured they once again appear before a magistrate. Depending on what the magistrate decides, the escapee’s time at the institution can be lengthened. This, according to the minister, is the procedure followed when inmates are “recaptured.”
NOC’s security is not as strong as the Georgetown Prison’s would be, Anthony noted, and inmates are allowed certain privileges, like attending their original school. The facility is the country’s chief rehabilitation centre for juveniles, the minister explained, but did not address the issue of security further.
