11th
Feburary 2010
BTC: 5 Decades
and looking ahead
Leonard Terrance
(Mr)
Manager
20th
February 2010, marks fifty years since the establishment
of the Boys Training Centre
Half a century ago, the Massade Industrial School,
as it was then called, was declared open by
Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal. This
was made possible through the Colonial Welfare
grant that was approved by the Colonial Office.
Although the school was built to accommodate
40 boys on 18 acres of land, on that special
day it welcomed only seventeen.
During the three-year period of construction
of the Massade Industrial School, 1957-60, seven
of the most delinquent boys who needed to be
in a residential facility were placed in a temporary
home in Conway, under the care of James A. Belgrave.
Mr. Belgrave engaged the boys in meaningful
activities such as boxing, where they were able
to productively channel their excess energies.
The late Sir Stanislaus James, was the chief
founder of the school, while Mr. Herilton Celestin
became the first Director. Mrs. Celistin served
as Matron, while Mr. Peter Louisy served as
Assistant Manager.
The Massade Boys Industrial School has gone
through many difficulties throughout its history.
The negative public perception and the stigma
associated with dealing with at-risk boys in
St.Lucia did not help the school. Notwithstanding
a level of success was achieved in the early
years. However, with the passing of time the
inevitable problems surfaced. In 1974 the school
was ordered closed for 18 months, while a Mr.
Ursell from the United Kingdom was appointed
to look into the operations of the Centre.
On completion of his investigation Mr. Ursell
made several recommendations which included
changing of the name of the institution from
the Massade Industrial School, to the Boys Training
Centre. It was hoped that a new name and a new
focus of rehabilitation would make the Centre
a more bona fide agency for dealing with at-risk
youths.
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