GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands – Four young men at the Bonaventure Home for Boys in West Bay had a chance to chat one-on-one with Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin recently.

The occasion was a trip to the home during the Hon. Premier’s continuing tours of his Community Affairs Ministry.

Bonaventure, founded in 1974, was the first major service project of the 40-year-old Grand Cayman Rotary Club of which Mr. McLaughlin’s father – Alden McNee McLaughlin Sr. – was a member. He was one of the members who came up with the idea to build the Bonaventure Home.

Children and Youth Services Foundation – a government owned company – manages and operates this youth rehabilitation, youth at risk facility for boys ages 13 to 18.

The facility is owned by the Government and CAYS prepares and provides programmes of rehabilitation; education and social development skills for delinquents and at risk boys.

The boys are sentenced via the court through the Department of Children and Family Services.

A Therapeutic Community Programme has been in place at the home for more than a year and represents the adoption of principles that focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment, encouraging young people to dig deep and confront their issues, typically within a peer-group setting. Instead of punishment, they learn the logical consequences of their actions.

The BBH also underwent renovations to reflect the philosophy. There is an open dorm layout for staff observation and safety, classrooms, and a group meeting room. Residents have a daily schedule consisting of education, group counseling, individual counseling, meals, recreation, dorm cleaning, and check-ins.

Boys must achieve goals in six separate levels before being allowed to re-enter the lives of their families and schools on a full-time basis. Achievement of each level can take weeks to months.

The programme can cater up to 10 boys; currently there are four with each of them achieving at different levels.

Also on the tour were the chairman of CAYS, Garth Arch, as well as CAYS board members, West Bay MLAs Bernie Bush and Capt. Eugene Ebanks, Political Advisor to the Premier Roy Tatum and Press Secretary Tammie Chisholm.

At the Golden Age Home in West Bay, the Hon. Premier met with clients and staff. Some of the workers have been at the home for 20 years or more.

“It takes special people to do this type of work to get someone to stay that length of time,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “Someone is doing something right.”

PHOTOS:

Bonaventure 1 – From left are Chairman of the Children and Youth Services Foundation, Mr. Garth Arch; Therapeutic Community Programme General Manager, Mr. Sydney Williams; and Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin. Photos: GIS

Bonaventure 2 – Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin and Therapeutic Community Programme General Manager, Mr. Sydney Williams share a laugh while touring the Bonaventure Boys Home.

Bonaventure 3 – From left are Dorine Whittaker, Chief Officer in the Ministry of Community Affairs; Chairman of the Children and Youth Services Foundation, Mr. Garth Arch; Sean Cahill, Chief Officer of Education representative on the CAYS Board; Jenny Manderson who is a Board members of Children and Family Services and Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin. Photo: Tammie Chisholm

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