Statement from the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development
The Government in seeking to improve the management arrangements of Industrial Schools and Orphanages directed the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development to enter a Memorandum of Understanding. The MOU was prepared and vetted by the Attorney general. Subsequently, it was sent to the Board of Management at the St. Michael’s Home and for concurrence (Letters dated April 16th and May 22nd are relevant). MOU’s were also sent to the other three institutions. The Ministry still awaits the response from the Board of Management. The Ministry’s Director of National Family Services functions as the Inspector of Industrial Schools and Orphanages and as such monitors the activities of these institutions.
The Ministry wishes to underscore that the “day to day” operations of the home is performed by the Manager who performs as the chief executive officer and executes the key management functions of the institution. The Board purview entails implementation of rules and provides strategic direction to the manager.
Through the investigation commissioned by the Minister of Gender, Youth and Child Development, an investigating team headed by the Office of the Inspector of Industrial Schools and Orphanages(established under the Children’s Act) , the circumstances at the St. Michael’s Home was unearthed, collated and reported to the Minister. Given the revelations of the findings the Minister of Gender, Youth and Child Development forwarded the reports to the Office of the Attorney General.
The Board of Management of the school was informed by letter dated May 7th. of the findings of the investigating team. The Board of management responded to the report by letter dated June 30th.