Madam Speaker, as you rightly said, with your permission, I will reply to PQ B/74 and PQ B/91 together as they relate to the same subject matter. The Rehabilitation Youth Centre (RYC) falls under the responsibility of the Commissioner of Prisons and operates under the aegis of the Prime Minister’s Office. It is

30 governed by the Reforms Institutions Act 1988. Its purpose is to rehabilitate juvenile offenders who are below the age of 18 whilst ensuring the safeguard of their rights. There are two centres for the RYC, as the hon. Member probably knows, one for boys and one for girls. Both centres are located at Barkly, Beau Bassin, and they can accommodate some 44 residents. However, following the proclamation of the Children’s Act 2020 in January 2022 and its subsequent implementation, there have been only four admissions at the RYC, for the following reasons – a) Children under the age of 14 years are no longer prosecuted; b) Children with serious behavioural concerns are sent to the Probation Home or Hostel; c) The law provides for the DPP to advise that the child offender be enrolled on a diversion programme. Madam Speaker, over the last years, the number of inmates at the RYC has reduced considerably and currently, there is no inmate as the last one was transferred to Beau Bassin Prison on 30 January of this year because he had reached the age of 18. There are 43 staffs at the RYC, headed by an Acting Superintendent who is responsible for the management and day-to-day operations, and reports to the Commissioner of Prisons. The Superintendent RYC is supported by officers in the grade of Chief Officers, Principal Officers, Senior Officers, and other officers. Since there are no inmates, the staffs have become redundant. Following consultations held in February and May 2024 with the staff union and representatives of the Government Services Employees Association (GSEA), the possibility of redeploying the staff to the Correctional Youth Centres or the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare to provide support in Child Development Unit shelters was discussed. That was in February and May 2024. However, the representatives of Unions did not agree to these proposals. They, instead, came up with a counterproposal that they should be seconded to the Ministry of Education and Human Resource, and also to perform the duties at the level of Discipline Master. However, when the latter Ministry was consulted at that time, the proposal was not agreed upon. Similarly, no greenlight has been given so far by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare.

31 Madam Speaker, in view of the need to redeploy – because we need to redeploy them – the redundant staff of the RYC, the representatives of my Office met the representatives of the GSEA and representatives of staff on 31 January 2025. It has been agreed that some RYC staffs would be temporarily posted to the Probation Home for Girls and Probation Hostel for Boys and some would be redeployed to the Correctional Youth Centres (CYC). The Acting Superintendent of the RYC and other senior staff would, for the time being, remain posted at the RYC for administration purposes and to monitor and organise the other schedules of work. The RYC officers would continue to report to the Acting Superintendent, RYC and retain all their benefits and allowances, and would continue to perform as per their schemes of service. However, all of them, in time, will have to be redeployed. Necessary training will be imparted to enable them to integrate the Probation Institutions and the Correctional Youth Centres. At the Prisons Department, they will be providing assistance to the Officers of the Prisons Cadre, including those of the Welfare Unit given their counselling skills. Madam Speaker, the RYC will remain operational in case an inmate is referred by Court, which might happen. The Acting Superintendent will then ensure that the necessary staff will be available to provide all the necessary training, counselling, and support. As regards the future strategy of the RYC, consultations will be held with relevant stakeholders for appropriate legislative amendments.

Yes!

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you, hon. Prime Minister, for your answer. May I kindly draw your attention to the fact that, since, as you said, 30 January, there have been no inmates in RYC and that the staff posted there have been transferred to CYC, there is a mismatch since one scheme of duties is under the PSC and the other falls under the DFSC. Can this be addressed, please?

This is being addressed, Madam Speaker. Let me assure the hon. Member. In fact, this has happened in the past, and this will be addressed.

Yes!

Thank you. Will the hon. Prime Minister agree that the whole concept of Rehabilitation Youth Centre or Correctional Youth Centre needs a complete

32 revamping to fulfil its mission to address juvenile delinquency and that there is a need for an assessment of the situation to see the heart of the problem? Thank you.

Yes, we will be doing that. In fact, as I said, the RYC has become redundant, but we will look at it globally.

Thank you. Yes, hon. First Member for Rodrigues, Ms Collet! REHABILITATION YOUTH CENTRES – OPERATIONALISATION