Without contradiction, the genie is out of the bottle as it relates to the horror of child sexual abuse in Guyana. What Guyanese would have known earlier about this monstrous social evil, would have been gleaned via television, and newspaper reports, of such acts occurring primarily in western industrialised countries.

Suffice it to say that such a dark perversity was an almost daily occurrence in that geographic region of the world, that resulted in perpetrators when caught, being dealt condign sentences by the Court. Guyanese generally seem not to have been that fully cognisant that such a dastardly act had been taking place in Guyana, but had been taboo, because of the respective victims and their families’ reluctance to discuss such a criminality.

For reasons such as family status, societal standing, etc., there was stony silence. But there were whispers, especially from within the communities about such dirty acts being perpetrated within families by relatives, as well as by other persons who preyed on the unsuspecting young.
Perhaps, the fact that such paedophilic acts began to be publicised in Guyana, may very well have been because of the bravery of persons who began to file complaints on behalf of the young victims, and the advent of television that brought to Guyanese, the accounts of victims of all ages of this brutal crime.
Then began the commencement of awareness programmes. Thus began the avalanche of victims’ reports and allegations that have since constituted a significant percentage of court cases.
We recall the ‘Stamp It Out’ campaign, an initiative by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, that invited the most comprehensive participation by Guyanese as it related to legislation for the Sexual Offenders Act, that makes it very difficult for offenders once charged, to escape sanction.
Shockingly, while the victims included right down to even infants, and the very young as the monsters were brought to court to answer for these horrendous acts; the perpetrators are drawn from the mix of teachers, religious functionaries, and other categories.
More shocking is the fact that those accused, charged, and eventually convicted have been persons known to the victims – relatives and close friends whom the victims trusted. Such is the balance sheet as it is related to this dismal act of child sexual abuse or molestation.
But one would not expect such deviant acts to be committed in a place of refuge such as an orphanage, as reported in a daily newspaper, recently, in the instance of such an institution’s caretaker being accused and appeared before the court, charged with sexually molesting an under-aged child. This is more than shocking, since an orphanage becomes the home of children whose parents have died, as well as those abandoned by their parents. It means that these children, brought to such a place for a second chance of a home, care and guidance, would be committing their lives and trust in the hands of those who become their guide/role models.
Therefore, for such a child to become victim to such abuse is to further undermine his/her mental growth and development process; especially the recovery aspect due to the loss, whether permanently through death, or estrangement, from parent. It is a most cruel infliction that any child can suffer, given those peculiar circumstances.
There have been reports surrounding similar acts taking place in such homes, from time to time; but enquiries are met by the usual denials. This strategy would seem to negate any police investigation that may follow.
Incidents such as these, highlight just how crucial the role of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) is, since it is the primary agency charged with the responsibility, among others, of ensuring that institutions responsible for the care and protection of children of circumstance, are managed in conformity with laid down rules.

As far as these homes are concerned, the CC&PA are known to make inspections. We have no doubt as to the pro-active approach which this Agency has brought to its daily functions, as evidenced by the many successful interventions made in rescuing abused children, while concomitantly ensuring that their abusers are placed before the Court. Truly, they have been doing a magnificent job in exposing child molesters.

However, given the wall of secrecy that is known to be erected around such incidents in such places, which includes coercing victims into silence, greater vigilance will have to be the watchword of the CC&PA inspection team on visits, in detecting any child who is a victim to any perverted act.