The first was a visit to the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) on Wednesday by Minister Gail Teixeira, who calls the children at the NOC her children, and Minister within the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Bibi Shadick.

More than 150 persons received treats and gifts from the two Ministers as part of the institution's annual Christmas luncheon.

The two Ministers along with Regional Chairman, Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) Alli Baksh, Research and Documentation Officer at the Ministry, Monica Lyte and Commissioner of the National Commission on the Rights of the Child, Anoopwattie Veeren served the children, their tutors and other staff of the NOC.

While there, the two Ministers also took the opportunity to examine the premises and the work done by the students.

The NOC is the only institution of its kind in the Caribbean and according to Teixeira, "It is our job to provide an atmosphere through organised programmes to help the children here to overcome their problems."

Ms Teixeira said she knows that some of the children at NOC will miss their families this Christmas, because they are not visited by family members while they are at the institution.

The children at the institution were encouraged to take time out to think about their future and what they are going to do when they leave the institution.

According to Teixeira, the NOC is for reform therefore, when children leave the institution, they are not to return.

Minister Shadick said this visit to the NOC was her first and she was impressed with the work the children are involved in as well as the relationship they have with tutors.

She is of the opinion, however, that some children would be better off in orphanages because of the nature of their problems. Shadick stated that she also admired the openness of the children as they related the reason why they were sent to the institution.