FOR every pregnant girl child (12-15 years) who ends up under the protection of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), you can be certain that there are more out there, somewhere in Guyana, enduring sexual abuse and rape. Where is the concerned neighbour or family member who is going to step forward on their behalf, informing the authorities about their predicament?

The pregnant teen’s story that follows is as poignant as it is reflective of many young children in local care, because it poses these questions: What happens to children when their parents do not want them? How does living with this rejection affect their development, and eventually their adult state of mind? Without love, security, protection and hope, these children are left at the mercy of…

SHANIA’S STORY (The names of the people in this story have been changed to protect the child’s identity.)

From as far back as I can remember, my father drank rum, and when he was drunk, he would cuss and chase everybody. When I was eight years old, my mother died, and I was sent to live with my grandmother. My aunty took my younger brother (then three), because she did not have any boy children.

My grandmother was unable to care for me properly, and for years I was passed between my auntie and uncle and then back to my grandmother. I used to attend school, but not every day. When I did go, my favourite subject was maths. Between 10 and 11 years of age, I started my monthly cycle. It was my grandmother who bought me a packet of ‘Stay Free’ and told me to keep away from boys. Then one day she sent me back to my father, stating that she is old and unwell, and caring for a child could kill her.

By now I was 13 years old, and although I had friends at school and was doing fairly well, my father decided I should leave school and go and work. For $1,000 a day, I had to clean and help out in a grocery shop nearby. I didn’t like the idea, but I did as I was told, even though deep inside I would have preferred to stay at school with my friends.

While I was working, my father would cook so there was something to eat when I got home. The only thing I didn’t like was when he asked me for money to buy rum. He kept pestering me as if it was my duty to give him money. One day when I refused to give him money, he packed up my belongings and put me out on the road, and there I stood, crying, with no one to turn to and nowhere to go.

A young man passing by saw me crying, and asked me what was wrong. When I told him my father put me out, he said I could come and stay by him. He took me to his village where he lived with his sister and her boyfriend, and that became my new home. We took turns cooking, and I settled down with Riley (that is his name) and his family. Riley never mistreated me or ‘knock’ me. He gave me money and took care of me. He told me he was 22 years old, and he would be my boyfriend. That’s when we began a sexual relationship.

After a while, we went to live with his mother and sisters in a different village some distance away. His family treated me well; one of his sisters was the same age as I, and one was a little bit younger. Soon after we moved in with his mother, I realised I was pregnant.

We spoke about having a child, so we were both happy as my belly got bigger and the baby began moving around inside me. But this happiness was short-lived. While Riley was away working on a dredge in the hinterland, CPA officers visited a nearby community, where they explained about child (sexual) abuse. Riley’s female cousin, who lived there, told one of the officers that I was only 14 years old and pregnant. A CPA officer came to speak to me about my situation, and eventually I was removed from my community and taken into formal care, pending an investigation into the matter of statutory rape.

Shania’s story is one with a series of unfortunate events, which eventually led to her being sexually abused by Riley. Statutory rape is an offence under the Sexual Offenders Act (2010). The law is clear: It is a crime to have sex with anyone below the age of 16. Shania, at 14, is unprepared mentally, physically, financially, morally, intellectually and emotionally for the role of motherhood; she is clearly a misguided child herself. With careful input, monitoring and support from CPA staff, Shania should return to school and work towards completing her CXCs in due course.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child, you can ring the CPA hotline 227 0979 or email childcaregy@gmail.com
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY, MINISTRY OF SOCIAL PROTECTION.