Plans are underway to enhance day-to-day operations at the Dennis Bowers Centre with the appointment of additional staff, including a former police officer, to support the existing manager. Oversight of the facility will remain under the purview of the relevant permanent secretary.
The announcement was made during Thursday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, where Ambassador Lionel Hurst confirmed that the government has allocated $100,000 to support the facility’s operations for the remainder of the year.
Formerly known as the Boys Training School, the centre currently houses seven boys and serves as a rehabilitative alternative to incarceration for minors who come before the courts. The renamed institution honours Dennis Bowers, a prominent figure in youth development in Antigua and Barbuda.
Hurst explained that the funding will be used to strengthen the centre’s structure, improve security, and provide better support for the youth in its care. The initiative reflects a broader effort to offer more effective rehabilitation and reduce reliance on custodial sentences for juvenile offenders.
Magistrates and parents are reportedly working together to steer vulnerable boys toward structured environments such as the Dennis Bowers Centre, rather than the adult prison system.
The centre, which has served the nation for generations, continues to play a vital role in guiding at-risk youth toward productive and responsible lives.
