Registrar of the Supreme Court Madame Justice Barbara Cooke-Alleyne.
CAUSE FOR CONCERN
The Registrar explained that when these young persons come before the Court and plead guilty, they undergo holistic testing, psychological and psychiatric, adding that their home life and school life are assessed. They are also tested for drugs.
She noted that the “danger age” seems to be around 14-15 and suggested that targeted programmes will be needed to tackle this group.
“Children who come to the Court... I would have seen children with low-self esteem, no boundaries, no discipline. Acting up at school, acting out in the community and being brought to the court on criminal charges,” she pointed out.
“We see another side of Barbados that most of you don’t see. And we just want to have a little light in that dark glass to make sure that Barbados is safe and that’s the aim of this programme.”
Madame Registrar while thanking sponsors for helping to make her vision a reality said greater investment is needed in programmes such as In the Winners Circle, which is facilitated by the Criminal Justice Research and Planning Unit, so that it can be expanded on a national level. She believes that children should be taught from as early as nursery school about conflict resolution.
The programme now in its eighth year is designed to help students who have just completed the 11+ examination to make a smoother transition to secondary school and all the challenges which may arise.
Some of the topics to be addressed include: your body and you, the law and you, substance abuse, bullying, and self- esteem. (JH)