WESTERN BUREAU:
CALM HAS returned to the truancy camp for boys which was the scene of violent fights on Sunday and officials are now optimistic things will gradually improve.
The camp at Nutshell, Trelawny was set up for boys with severe behavioural problems, particularly chronic absenteeism from school, frequent fights and learning disabilities.
The unruly behaviour and several fights on Sunday night forced administrators to call in the police on two occasions. Camp officials subsequently booted out 19 boys. The Gleaner understands that an additional 23 boys have left the camp voluntarily. This could not be confirmed yesterday, but Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, Fitz Jackson, says that questions on the issue will be answered at a press conference on Friday.
The Rev. Adinhair Jones, acting Executive Director of the National Youth Service (NYS), through which the camp is being administered, told The Gleaner yesterday that things have settled down at the camp.
"We are having regular classes and routine exercises," he said. "We are at the start up of the camp and we are making sure everything is tight and efficient."
He admitted there were some "internal issues" to be dealt with, but refused to discuss them with the press.
"We don't want to solve our problems in the media," he remarked. "I will have some more information by Saturday." He refused to comment on Sunday's incident.
When The Gleaner visited the camp yesterday, participants were calmly lining up for exercise before lunch.
"The group that is here wants to stay and, as you can see, we are trying to turn them into gentlemen," an official said, pointing to participants who were neatly arranged in rows to enter the dining room for lunch.
The truancy camp for 180 boys is expected to run until September 25. It is an initiative of the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce.
