Jul 8, 2021
Youth Hostel Undergoes Facelift and Change of Image
Six months ago we took you to the youth hostel at mile twenty-one on the George Price Highway in Rockville. You’ll recall the deplorable conditions of the facility, shown by the Ministry of Human Development. They promised to make the necessary upgrades to the facility. Well, they made good on that promise. Today the press was invited out to the hostel for a tour.
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
This is what the Princess Royal Youth Hostel looks like today – bright and cheery. It got a face-lift with a fresh coat of paint; new furniture; and fully refurbished restrooms and public spaces including a counseling room. But this renovation became necessary because back in December the home was in a deplorable state. According to Minister Dolores Balderamos Garcia, the hostel is getting a full rehabilitation from the physical upgrades to programmatic changes.
Dec 31, 2020
Behind the Walls of the Princess Royal Youth Hostel
Tonight, we begin our final newscast for 2020 by going behind the razor wires and chain-link fence at the Princess Royal Youth Hostel. For the better part of the last thirteen years, the facility has been closely guarded by the Ministry of Human Development which has kept the media at bay, particularly during times of unrest. On Wednesday, Minister Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of State Gilroy Usher Sr. and Chief Executive Officer Tanya Santos toured the facility and saw firsthand the heartrending situation that teenagers are forced to reckon with in the name of rehabilitation. This morning an invitation was extended to us, for the first time, and here is what reporter Isani Cayetano also saw.
Dec 31, 2020
Princess Royal Youth Hostel is Not a Dump!
The Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous People’s Affairs, in addressing the pressing issues at the Princess Royal Youth Hostel, will be working closely with the families of young adults who are placed in care at that facility. Part of the problem that has plagued the hostel is the belief by some parents that hostel is merely a place to abandon unruly children.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
“In terms of the systemic improvements and changes that we have to make, we will have to work with the parents and the families. We’ll have to work with the parents and the families because this place cannot be seen as a dumping ground or when they accuse you of uncontrollable behavior they dump you da Mile 21 and dehn forget bout yoh. So we have to work with parents and we will take the remit of families within the name of this ministry very seriously and, like I said, in a couple of months from no