by JULIE WILSON

THE GLENDAIRY PRISON FIRE has turned out to be a godsend for the staff and students of the Barbados Youth Service (BYS).

Minister of Education, Youth Affairs, and Sport, Reginald Farley, disclosed at the passing-out parade for more than 80 trainees in the October intake at Paragon, yesterday, that a ten-acre portion of land just some yards away, will be the site of the state-of-the-art headquarters.

He said the ministry was working on the plans which should be on the Chief Town Planner's desk shortly.

He said several site meetings were held at the Paragon site with officials from the Ministry of Housing, as well as staff from the Barbados Defence Force, Cadet Corps, and other agencies.

Farley said the construction of the facility would be treated as a matter of priority and would be equipped with modern facilities.

"I want to assure the most distinguished trainees that all the things that you would have mentioned, and more, would be included.

"There would be specialist classrooms, regular classrooms, recreation areas, dormitories, kitchen – the full works."

He explained that in the interest of national safety, an urgent decision had to be taken to relocate the correctional facility to Harrison Point, St Lucy – headquarters of the BYS.

The urgent de-commissioning of the BYS and the absence of an alternative location and storage facilities forced the BYS to leave most of its equipment and materials behind.

He described this year as a very challenging one for the BYS and lauded them for exhibiting self confidence and team work; and said more Barbadians need to follow in their footsteps.

"If there is one thing which is needed a lot more in Barbados, it is a sense of community spirit which used to be a part of everyday Barbadian experience.

"But we have perhaps become very materialistic and individualistic, and we need to get back to basics."

Best recruit Jennifer Rogers, in her remarks, described the BYS programme as a holistic one which provided another chance for the youth to improve themselves academically, socially, psychologically and spiritually.

To her peers she offered some valuable advice.

"My fellow trainees, I beg you to think seriously about your lives and the consequences of each and every decision you make, because all decisions have consequences, whether positive or negative, large or small."

She said that although the BYS had to make way for the inmates of Glendairy Prison, most staffers were nostalgic about the facility which was equipped with a well-stocked library, Internet facilities, and other specialist equipment.

Rogers said she hoped Government would soon provide a new, fully equipped facility to facilitate the various training programmes.