Justice Prem Persaud will chair the Board of Inquiry (BOI) that will investigate the break out and arson by inmates at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC), at Onderneeming, on the Essequibo Coast last week.
In a statement, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport also identified Alfred King, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary; Christopher Griffith, Senior Superintendent and Commander of “D” Division of the Guyana Police Force; Trenneta Scott, Senior Probation Officer at the Human Services Ministry; and Maydha Persaud, retired headmaster and member of the Teaching Service Commission, as the other members of the BOI.
According to the statement, the inquiry will commence work immediately on events prior to and during the breakdown of order at the juvenile correctional facility, including the mass escape on August 22 and the arson on August 23 that razed the female dormitory and a craft shop.
Among its Terms of Reference is to examine the culpability of the inmates involved and review existing arrangements and make recommendations to prevent any reoccurrences. It will also make recommendations as to the disciplinary actions to be taken against those found culpable and investigate such matters which in the opinion of the board to be considered relevant to the inquiry.
The board will invite submissions from all relevant stakeholders who may be interested in contributing to its work, and if necessary can co-opt other skills and expertise that would aid its work.
All logistical and other relevant support will be provided by the ministry to board, which is expected to deliver its final report by September 30.
On Monday, forty-six inmates of the NOC were charged over the mayhem at the facility, including six who were charged with arson.
The inmates, who are between the ages of 14 and 18 years, appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Charity Magistrate’s Court and one of them claimed during the court appearance that the fire at the craft shop was accidental.
A team of officials from the ministry, led by Minister Frank Anthony, met the inmates the day after the fire and listened to their complaints, which included harsh treatment at the hands of the administration of the facility.
Some of the inmates were relocated to the Juvenile facility at Ruimveldt in the city while the others are being housed at other buildings within the NOC compound.
