Finally bowing to public and international pressure, today the Ministry of Home Affairs removed the 13 year old Belize City boy from SOE detention. He and a 15 year old who was also detained under the SOE - were transferred from the Wagner's Youth Facility to the New Beginnings Youth Center - which is formerly the youth hostel. That's where, a press release from the Ministry says, quote, "they will receive the care and support needed for their development."
The oddly worded press release adds that the Minister of Home Affairs recently visited with the young detainees at Wagner's along with the representatives from UNICEF and the chief executive officers of the Ministries of Home Affairs and Human Development.
In this visit, the release claims, quote, "One significant request from these young men was to be integrated into the Leadership Intervention Unit programs upon their release." End quote.
We'd need to have independent confirmation of that one - but in a sheepish attempt to spin its way out of a total embarrassment, the release tries to muster a grace note saying, quote, "The Ministry of Home Affairs...remain(s) dedicated to upholding the principle of the best interests of the child and ensuring that the rights of these young individuals are respected, irrespective of the allegations against them." End quote.
Of course, if that was the case, the children wouldn't have been detained under the SOE in the first place which the commissioner justified by saying that it would be a good time for him to reflect on his life.
