Clarke

Children's Advocate Mary Clarke yesterday revealed that she had been making complaints to the Department of Correctional Services about overcrowding at the Armadale Juvenile Correctional Centre since September 2007.

Clarke said a meeting was held with then Commissioner of Corrections Major Richard Reese; Everton Hesson, the director of juvenile services, and then superintendent of Armadale, among others.

Clarke said at that time, Armadale, which has a capacity of 45, was housing 70 wards, and there was only one psychologist serving all the juvenile institutions on the island.

Clarke added that more specialists were needed, a caseworker was required, and there was a lack of supervision of girls in the evening and night. Additionally, she said Reese had spoken of a plan to retrofit a residential institution for the girls.

Clarke also complained that girls were placed at the St Ann institution for several different reasons. Some were there for care and protection, others were remanded, and some were sent on court orders.

Fire investigator assistant superintendent Fitzroy Rowe also testified on Day 26 of the commission of enquiry into the May 22 fire at Armadale. He said that from his observations, the fire started on a bed towards the front window and a bookshelf at the facility. His testimony is consistent with statements made by several wards, who said they saw fire on a bed after a device had been thrown into the building.

Not electrical

While he was uncertain of what started the fire, Rowe, who has been a fire investigator since 1997, has ruled out the possibility of an electrical short circuit. He said the fire could have started from a naked flame and added that he had visited Armadale on May 24 and had not smelt fumes inside the building

The enquiry resumes at the National Volunteer Centre on Camp Road in St Andrew, with the Children's Advocate scheduled to continue her testimony.

kimesha.walters@gleanerjm.com