Forty-six inmates of the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) were yesterday charged over the mayhem at the Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast facility last week, including six who were charged with arson.
The inmates, who are between the ages of 14 and 18 years, appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly yesterday morning at the Charity Magistrate’s Court, where one of them claimed that the fire at the craft shop was accidental.
Three female inmates were charged with setting fire to a building with persons therein and three male inmates were charged with setting fire to a building and they were remanded to police custody until October 4. They are to be sent to another juvenile facility, this newspaper has learnt.
In addition, police said 14 female and 26 male students were charged with escaping from lawful custody. They were remanded to the New Opportunity Corps until October 4, 2012.
When the inmates appeared at the court yesterday, most of them were barefooted. All were dressed in the NOC uniform. One of them told the court that he was among a group of boys at the craft shop on the night of August 23, when he attempted to light a lamp. While doing so, he said, the lit match fell to the ground, resulting in a fire.
The inmates are to return to court on October 4.
Last Wednesday evening, dozens of students of the NOC went on a rampage and forced their way out of the facility. While most of them were recaptured the following day, that evening saw additional unrest at the institution as the female dormitory as well as a tailor shop at the Onderneeming institution were destroyed by fire that the inmates are believed to have set.
The inmates subsequently met with a team of officials from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and complained of abuse by the management of the juvenile correctional facility. It was disclosed on Friday that a committee will be established to investigate the allegations by the juveniles as well as the operations of the facility, where police are now providing support to the security service on site.
The temporary measure will remain in place for an indefinite period.
Last week Wednesday night, the male students created havoc at the facility after they were upbraided by a supervisor about a broken door at one of the buildings. Reports are that the supervisor threatened to beat those students whom he thought responsible for the incident. Subsequently, the male students armed themselves with cutlasses and sticks and proceeded to break the locks at the male dormitory. Thereafter, confusion reigned as the security guards on duty were forced to scamper to safety while two of their seniors suffered a sound beating from the teenaged men.
The police related that several of the students were recaptured the following day but the situation worsened on Thursday night after the males stormed the sports centre and armed themselves with cutlasses and other sharp instruments.
The female dormitory was set alight soon after the building as well as the tailor shop were gutted.
Minister Dr Frank Anthony has said that the ministry will establish a committee to investigate Wednes-day night’s rampage as well as events leading up to the fire the following night. He said that based on the findings of the committee, the highlighted issues will be addressed.
