The Government is fast-tracking plans to amend Section 24 of the Child Care and Protection Act (CCPA) that will bring an end to the practice of placing children deemed “uncontrollable” in penal institutions.

Section 24 of the CCPA indicates that in a case where a parent or guardian proves to a court that he is unable to control his child, the court can make an order which could, among other things, result in the juvenile being sent to a correctional centre.

In a statement to the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Minister of Education, Youth and Information Fayval Williams said that the Government had pulled out specific sections of the law for early changes ahead of a comprehensive amendment of the legislation.

According to Williams, following the amendment of the CCPA, no child not charged with an offence would end up in a correctional facility.

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