| The United States of America is proud of the strides it has made to eliminate youth driven crime and violence in Guyana and has committed to employing other measures for further success.The United States hosted a reception last Thursday at the Marriott Hotel, Georgetown in celebration of its Independence. At this event, the Charge d’ Affairs of the United States Embassy,Custom Raptors Jersey, Bryan Hunt, told the gathering that his country remains committed to USAID partnership with the Skills and Knowledge for Youth Employment (SKYE) Programme.The initiative, he said, has as its mandate to train and educate at-risk youth in life and work skills that have been identified as critical by public and private sector employers in Guyana.“Our mutually beneficial goal is to reduce youth crime and violence by developing enhanced skills and increased economic opportunities.”President David GrangerUS Embassy Charge d’ Affairs,NCAA Hockey Jerseys, Bryan HuntHe said that under the programme’s thrust to deter and reduce youth involvement in crime and violence, working with the Magistracy and the probation Department of the Ministry of Social Protection, more than 70 youths who have received alternative sentences, were diverted from incarceration, and began receiving support to reform their lives.Further, he stated that most recently the programme also began providing reintegration support to 40 of the individuals who received pardons from President David Granger.“Over 1600 youths have been mentored and provided with life and work skills training and in excess of 650 youths have been linked to long term employment. Our work to empower youth and support improvement of their lives,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Outlet, through this programme continues, partnering with government, private sector,Cheap NFL Jerseys, and the non-governmental community to achieve objectives.”Days after he became President, Granger announced that he will pardon 60 youths who were incarcerated for minor offences.He has said, “I believe that young people should be in school, not in jail, and I have asked that emphasis be placed on young persons, and for non-violent offences, and sentences of short duration.”President Granger said that he will annually grant presidential pardons to prisoners sentenced for minor misdemeanors between the ages of 18 and 25.The Head-of-State said that he had asked particularly for especially female convicts, “but apparently the females have not been misbehaving at the same rate as the males…It turns out that there is a small number of females too, who had actually committed minor offences.”Nevertheless,Throwback Jerseys, the President said that many young men are in jail for frivolous offences.President Granger had expressed hope that the youths will make good use of the second opportunity being afforded to them. “I hope they get back in school, get work, and get on with their lives. They do not belong in jail. They belong in school, at home with their families, be happy,Authentic Jerseys Sale,” the President said.Addressing the challenge the convicts will face in being reintegrated, President Granger said, “Most of them are young; most of them are misdemeanors, which are non-violent, and I do hope that we can reintegrate them by ensuring that we get them into training programmes.” (Abena Rockcliffe) |
