Delays in the territory’s Youth Court have led to a total of 34 outstanding juvenile cases, 22 of which are from last year, according to Health and Social Development Minister Vincent Wheatley.

“The formal sittings of the Youth Court were disrupted by the hurricanes of 2017 and the reestablishment of formal Youth Court sittings has faced ongoing challenges leading to significant delays,” Mr. Wheatley said last Thursday in the House of Assembly. “However, matters pertaining to juveniles [are] adjudicated through the Magistrates’ Court.”

Mr. Wheatley was responding to questions from Deputy Speaker Stacy Mather regarding statistics on juvenile crimes.

“More than four — or as many as eight — of the offences mentioned are allegedly to have been committed by the same person,” Mr. Wheatley said.

He added that the age range of those accused is 14 to 17 years old.

“The typical offences committed include common assault; indecent assault; assault occasioning actual bodily harm; theft; criminal damage; [being armed with] an offensive weapon; assault with intent to prevent lawful apprehension; sexual intercourse with a minor under the age of 13; using a computer for child abuse material; burglary; handling stolen goods; escaping lawful custody; possession of a controlled drug; [driving] without due care and attention; [driving] without a driver’s licence; use of a vehicle not covered by insurance in respect of third party; driving without an identification plate; driving a motorcycle without crash helmet; [and] use of licence plate on a motor vehicle to which it has not been assigned,” Mr. Wheatley said.

Detention centre?

Mr. Mather followed up by asking if the juvenile detention centre at His Majesty’s Prison in Balsam Ghut is operational and if youth are serving time there.

However, Mr. Wheatley said he did not know the answer to the question, and he promised to revert when he gets the answer.

“It seems like we don’t have a Youth Court and we don’t know what we’re doing with the young people that are committing these crimes in our territory,” Mr. Mather said. “That’s very disheartening.”

Attempts this week to reach His Majesty’s Prison about the juvenile detention centre were not successful.