NOC sex scandal…Teens being forced to

switch stories – Relatives

By Latoya Giles

“I honestly thought that by sending my daughter to the NOC (New Opportunity Corps)…that I was doing the right thing. I thought that they had persons that were trained professionally to help her, but it’s like I sent her to hell….I feel guilty,” cried a mother of one of the teenage girls who is at the centre of a bitter sex scandal at the facility.
The mother told Kaieteur News that she is currently being denied a “one-on-one” visit with her daughter. According to the woman, while visiting her daughter recently, the 16-year-old managed to slip a note in her pocket. The woman told Kaieteur News that she almost collapsed after she read the letter.
She said that her daughter complained of physical and sexual abuse by caregivers at NOC and Ministry officials. Kaieteur News was told by the woman that her daughter was initially sentenced to two years at the NOC.
“When she get that two years I say okay….she gun go there and learn a trade and get counseling,” the woman said.
The woman further alleges that officials from the NOC would take them out of the compound to their houses to clean. While at the houses they would fondle and would have sex with them.
“It’s like a free-for-all…That’s how they treat the young girls,” the mother told Kaieteur News.
She said that officials are forcing her daughter along with other teenage girls to change stories that they have told their parents.
The woman alleges that she isn’t allowed to speak with her child alone.
“You can’t speak to them one-on-one…six of them (officials) in the room sitting listening to what the children saying…they (children) are afraid to speak.”
She said that it would appear as though the children are being forced to withhold information from relatives. Kaieteur News was told by the woman that her daughter was expected to be released next month; however, officials are now telling her that this may not be so.
According to the girl’s mother, she was told that her daughter was part of a “gang” and she was sentenced to an additional four years by the magistrate at the Anna Regina Court. However, the woman said that she was told that her daughter would be on one year’s probation which would have been spent with her.
Director of the Child Protection Agency Ann Greene told Kaieteur News that they are treating the matter with great urgency. She said that she could not divulge much information at this time.
On Wednesday evening Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Jennifer Webster, said that she had asked the Child Care and Protection Agency to investigate the alleged sexual molestation of female inmates of the New Opportunity Corps.
Minister Webster told Kaieteur News, yesterday, that her Ministry received reports from the parents of the alleged victims on Tuesday.
“I have asked the Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency to conduct an investigation. We are currently conducting an investigation,” Webster said.
Minister Webster’s comments came amid reports that several teenage girls have alleged that a senior government official was one of the individuals who had sexual intercourse with them at the New Opportunity Corps.
Parliamentarian Chris Jones had told Kaieteur News that his party was in the process of preparing a dossier which would be sent to various international organizations.
“One dossier will be filled with statements of the children and the Government of Guyana’s inaction to deal with these matters” Jones explained.