The article written by Joan Cornell ? ?Correctional Youth Centre ? what it?s like inside? last week brought some reactions. Below are two responses to the article.

Since Mauritius is a seemingly democratic country, it would be fair to give a different view on the situation described by J. Cornell. Unlike the writer, I have never been inside the CYC but the real issue of violence among these girls remains a fact. It would be misleading to perceive them as mere victims of society. Various arguments put forward in the article need to be clarified.

In the very first instance, the minister of Social security cannot be blamed for the existing condition at the CYC. It is true that she asked to be considered as the inmates? ?mother?. But the life of each individual is certainly not the responsibility of the government or another individual. It is that of the family unit and the individual himself. The girls at CYC are not utterly innocent adolescents. If the minister is held responsible ?where is she now ? this mother?? then the actual mothers of the girls are to be blamed as well. They are the ones responsible for bringing up their children.

Another aspect to be argued is the light way in which the girls? violent behaviour is transformed into ?what has been their crime ? other than misbehaving as adolescents?? Not all adolescents in Mauritius behave in this way and we do have hope in our promising youth. These girls knew the consequences of their destructive actions. If an adolescent is feeling ill-treated at CYC, the civilised way to express oneself is to talk, protest or inform the media. Breaking up materials, which belong to the state, is unlawful and violent. Destroying what is not theirs is illegal. It would indeed be chaos if all Mauritians were to voice out their discontent by creating a mutiny at school or in the workplace. Violence cannot be left ?unpunished? as it is against the norms of civilisation.

At times, punishment does bring discipline and most Mauritian families would agree with that statement. Can a parent never punish his or her child? To learn from one?s mistakes is the path to maturity. Punishment entails discipline. Adolescents from broken families do not always become violent. The broken family background is to some extent used as an excuse to justify violent and aggressive attitudes.

The third point to be considered is that of the girls? indulgence in sexual intimacy with each other. It is stated that lesbian relationships are formed because ?there?s not much else to give meaning to their lives?. So does sex and?licking each other?s wounds? give meaning to their existence? Countless women have been in prison but they did not all turn out lesbians. They were strong-minded and avoided depravity. Using the arts does help contain ?destructive emotions? to some degree. Yet such therapy can be done without the aid of the arts if one is confident and endowed with will power. But control of the mind, unfortunately, is not possible in everyone. When a person has deliberately decided to destroy, he or she will definitely carry it out. Devastating the RYC was a deliberate and planned act. ?They were selective in what they trashed.? This is liable to punishment. It would be a lofty goal to try to refine each individual?s mind. Until we can manage that, the individual must realise his errors and flaws through punishment.

Hema DHABY