Staff members of the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) at Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast, on Sunday completed a five-day skills training course expected to improve their interactions with inmates, after recent unrest at the facility that saw a mass breakout and arson.
The workshop was primarily geared at establishing new approaches in future instanceswhere staff would be forced to address and interface with inmates, and helping them to appreciate that they have varying personality attributes.
The course was deemed necessary a month after the recent outbreak and the torching of the female dorm and the tailoring workshop in the compound, with which almost four dozen inmates were charged.
The course was organised by the Ministry of Youth, in collaboration with the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS).
Lectures, delivered by Dr Seema Beekhoo and Dr Eton Simon, clinical psychologist of the American University of Peace Studies, focused on topics that included: Self-Awareness; Mental Health; Post-Traumatic Recovery; Emergency Preparedness; Alternatives to Corporal Punishment; Anger Management and Conflict Resolution.
Staff members were also taught the art of meditation, soul searching and being completely self-conscious.
Youth Director at the ministry, Devenand Ramdatt, meanwhile, noted that the institution’s primary mandate was to provide care and social rehabilitation for young offenders.
Ramdatt added that apart from the course, the facility is also currently redesigning and redefining a new curriculum for remedial Mathematics, English, Class Room Training, Social Studies and Integrated Science.
As a result of the break out on August 22 and the arsons on August 23, a team of officials from the ministry, led by Minister Frank Anthony, met the inmates and listened to their complaints, which included harsh treatment at the hands of the administration of the facility.
The 48 inmates charged with escaping and also with the arsons were all remanded to prison. Those inmates are being held at the Suddie and Anna Regina lock-ups.
