Two juvenile courts—one in Trinidad and the other in Tobago—are expected to be established and operational by year’s end.
This was an assurance given on Thursday by the Chief Justice Ivor Archie.
Archie was delivering the feature address at the third graduation of the Drug Treatment Court (DTC) Programme, which was held in the DT courtroom at the Tunapuna Magistrates’ Court.
Archie said that the courts, when established, will institute a more understanding judicial environment with the appropriate linkages needed to facilitate the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders.
“The core objectives is to build situational capacity of juvenile courts to adjudicate cases in an efficient and effective manner in accordance with new laws and principles of restorative justice. Also, establishment of juvenile peer resolution centres to adjudicate minor offenses based on principles of restorative justice and development of a cadre of youth leaders,” Archie said.
Currently, the Judiciary is engaging in the development and delivery of public awareness campaigns to educate and sensitise the public on the reform of the juvenile justice system and project initiatives to support the implementation of the Children’s Act.
“Our youth have been under served for too long and we need to get this right. We are painfully aware of the fact that both male and female students are involved in drug use, and are mindful of the fact that s great risk is posed to our next generation of potential leaders,” Archie said.
Archie also threw out a challenge to magistrates saying that he would like to see an increase in referrals from the various courts to the DTC.
Valedictorian, Winston Cambridge, 54, of Maloney gave his life story and in the end expressed gratitude to the DTC. Today he is proud to say that he is 476 days clean from drugs.
“I used to pay $500 a day for cocaine. Many times I went to rehab but this time, the DTC has been a blessings in disguise for me. I made a conscious decision to change and here I am today, reconciled with my family. With tears in my eyes and in the eyes of my daughter, she said ‘Daddy, I thought I had lost you.’ I did not know how much my addition had impacted them,” Cambridge said.
Representing the DTC, San Fernando, graduate Kwesi Austin, 27, of San Fernando was proud to say that he has not used marijuana in 325 days.