The day my life changed
Part Two
I LAY on the floor by my bedroom door crying. My body in pain and my mind filled with the worse grief I have ever experienced in my short life. Earlier that day my Uncle Mikey sneaked into our house and sexually assaulted me, yes me, an 11-year-old girl. I was home alone; too ill to attend school and now my whole life has changed in the most horrible way possible.
My grandfather picked me up and took me to my bed, but I couldn’t stop crying. I could see the concern in his eyes as he called my mother. She came quickly and asked me what was wrong? I shouted out through my sobs and tears, that Uncle Mikey hurt me ; I don’t know if they understood or if I was making sense, but I said it over and over again as I pointed to the sheets and my soiled nightdress on the floor.
That was the first time I saw my grandfather cry, he got up with tears in his eyes and left the room. My mother calmed me down by wrapping her arms around me, her body felt weak and cold. She kept saying everything is going to be alright baby; everything is going to be alright… Her warm tears touched my cheeks and her words comforted me.
My mother got the police and the Childcare and Protection Agency involved. Uncle Mikey was arrested and we had to go to court where I gave evidence. I was surprised when they let Uncle Mikey out on bail pending a trial. After that, every time the case was called to court, he got bail. It seemed as if he was free: Free to go where he liked and do what he liked, free to have fun and get on with his life. Free to rape another little girl if he wanted to. But I wasn’t free, because I was the victim of a brutal sexual attack and my life changed forever on that day.
Sometimes when I was happy or having fun it would come flooding back through my mind: what he did to me and how helpless I felt. He put me through a lot of pain, he is a wicked man.
So much time has passed and there still hasn’t been a trial, Uncle Mikey just keeps getting more bail. Next week, I will be 17 years old and I am writing my CSEC exams soon. I am too ashamed to go to court now and talk about what he did, it seems so long ago. It is already a dark shadow over my life that causes me pain deep inside. And it hurts even more when I think that he may never go to jail for the crime he committed against me. (A true story as related to a Childcare and Protection Officer)
The justice system should work in favour of our children, but in delaying justice the system is denying justice to the children who are victims of abuse. What type of message is this sending to the perpetrator and to our society on the whole? So many child sex offenders walk free after a period of time, as if the crime never happened. While in contrast the victims are scarred for life. Perpetrators deserve to go jail for their heinous acts against children, so whenever and wherever possible we must advocate for effective teamwork among the police, medical staff and the courts, to ensure speedy, effective results and incarceration for ALL child sex offenders. (Names and locations have been altered to protect identity)

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child call the Childcare and Protection Agency Hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com
A message from the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ministry of Social Protection