Seychelles Opens First Ever Youth Offenders Facility at Amitie Praslin
VICTORIA, Seychelles — Praslin welcomed the country’s first ever youth offenders’ facility on Monday, with the official inauguration ceremony held at the Amitié site. The facility was inaugurated by President Wavel Ramkalawan and the Minister for Internal Affairs Roy Fonseka, in the presence of First Lady Linda Ramkalawan, Vice President Ahmed Afif, several ministers, the Commissioner of Seychelles Prison Services Raymond St Ange, members of the National Assembly, representatives from the judiciary, officers of the Attorney General’s Office, the chairperson of the Prison Advisory Board, and other guests. The opening is the first of its kind in the country’s history, and is being read as a significant moment in the development of the country’s justice system for young people.
Commissioner of Seychelles Prison Services Raymond St Ange shared in his address that the centre is expected to be a collaborative effort with the social services, youth department, department of education, children’s council, department of employment and other important partners. He explained that the centre will manage, with care, dignity and the seriousness needed, those juveniles convicted by a court of law. The framing of the centre as a collaborative effort is being read as a deliberate move away from the more punitive approach of the past, and towards a model that places rehabilitation and reintegration at the centre of the work.
Last year, two current staff of the prison services travelled to Israel to get a better understanding of how to better manage youth in distress. The study tour is being used as the basis for the operating model of the new facility, and reflects the government’s willingness to draw on international best practice in this area. The visit to Israel was followed up with further technical work with local partners, and the design of the new facility incorporates the lessons from the visit, as well as input from local partners in the justice, education and social affairs sectors.
The unveiling of the commemorative plaque by President Ramkalawan and Minister Fonseka was followed by the exchange of commissioning certificate by the officer-in-charge of the youth offenders’ facility, inspector Stephanie Lewis, and Minister Fonseka. Minister Fonseka thanked all the partners for their support in the setting up and in guaranteeing the smooth running of the facility. A village of hope, and in a collaborative approach with education, youth, family affairs, health ministries, departments and other interested partners, we will be a formidable team to support a concept and effort for vulnerable children.
The centre can cater for youths between the ages of 12 and 17 convicted by the court only for criminal offences. It includes separate dormitories for male and female clients and can host up to 16 females and 20 males with around 40 staff. It also comprises classrooms, a dining area, holding cells, sports area and vocational training areas and is expected to host curriculum studies as well as therapeutic music and arts sessions. The ceremony ended with a tour of the premises, with the same premises having previously hosted the youth rehabilitation treatment centre (YRTC), a similar approach at rehabilitation for minors, on a path to delinquent behaviour, in 2004, though it did not operate as a prison and was later moved to North East Point on Mahé where it permanently closed down in 2009.
