Juvenile Correctional and Remand Centre
“You are not defined by your mistakes, you are individuals with potential, creativity and the ability to contribute meaningfully to society if given the right tools and guidance,” says Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security and Peace, the Hon. Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn.
The State Minister has reaffirmed the commitment held by the government to effective rehabilitation with the official handover of a sewing laboratory at the South Camp Juvenile Correctional and Remand Centre on Thursday (March 12).
The sewing lab, funded by the Digicel Foundation at a cost of $2.5 million dollars, will provide practical skills training for wards at the facility. The initiative is supported by the Garmex Academy HEART/NSTA Trust, which assisted with the design of the laboratory to ensure it meets industry standards, and the Forward Step Foundation, which will offer sewing summer classes.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Minister Cuthbert-Flynn emphasised that hands-on rehabilitation remains central to Jamaica’s correctional framework, particularly with youth rehabilitation.
She noted that the establishment of the sewing laboratory represents a practical investment in the development of the young women housed at the institution, providing them with opportunities to acquire marketable skills and build a more stable future.
“Skills training is one of the most powerful ways we can help young people rebuild their lives,” the Minister stated, noting that practical training in dressmaking and fashion design can foster discipline, patience and a deeper appreciation for craftsmanship while opening pathways to employment and entrepreneurship.
Also addressing the ceremony, Commissioner of Corrections at the Department of Correctional Services, Brigadier (Ret’d) Radgh Mason, underscored the importance of partnerships in advancing rehabilitation initiatives within the correctional system.
“We value this partnership greatly as our collaboration with Digicel extends far beyond this sewing lab. True transformation only happens when government, private sector and civil society work together,” Commissioner Mason said, emphasising that meaningful progress in rehabilitation requires sustained cooperation across sectors.
The initiative forms part of the Ministry of National Security and Peace We Transform Youth Empowerment Programme, which focuses on the rehabilitation and development of youth in state care across juvenile centres islandwide.
Minister Cuthbert-Flynn commended the programme’s team for their continued dedication to supporting offender clients within juvenile facilities, noting that their work contributes to the wider national objective of building a safer and more secure Jamaica.
She further indicated that initiatives such as the sewing laboratory demonstrate the government’s commitment to strengthening a correctional system that balances security with rehabilitation and restorative approaches.
The facility will serve as a structured learning space where young women at the correctional centre can develop competencies in garment construction and related areas, equipping them with practical skills that can support their reintegration into society.
Minister Cuthbert-Flynn expressed confidence that the initiative will contribute to positive outcomes for the participants and reinforce the importance of investing in rehabilitation, education and skills training as part of Jamaica’s broader crime prevention strategy.
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