Child’s HIV-negative test does not vindicate accused stepfather
–Child Care Protection official

DIRECTOR of the Child Care Protection Agency, Ann Green has strongly dismissed the notion in some quarters that since the man accused of impregnating the 12-year-old claims he is HIV-positive, and she tested HIV-negative, then he is not guilty as charged.Speaking with this newspaper yesterday morning, Green confirmed that the accused was at her office, and that he has since been handed over to the police.
Green said that given that there is an incubation period to determine if someone has contracted HIV, then if the girl is not positive at this stage, that does not mean that she did not contract the virus so the man should not be allowed to walk, based on his claims.
She said the Department she heads has no option at this stage but to believe the girl’s story, until such time that evidence is provided to prove otherwise.
She said the child recalled travelling to the city, where she came to visit her mother, and that since her mother was out, the man whom she described as her stepfather entered the room and raped her.
According to the young child’s story to the Child Protection Agency, she was afraid of the man, and did not report the matter to anyone and when she travelled back to the Interior where she originally resided, her belly began showing indications of pregnancy.
“Enough is enough in this country! We cannot have people raping and sexing children and walk with impunity it is wrong, it is against the law. We have laws and we will get to the bottom of this story – the things she is saying are making sense,” Green told the Guyana Chronicle in a telephone interview.
This newspaper was told that based on the information which the department has received the mother tried to cover-up the matter by claiming that the child got pregnant for a young man in the interior area of Lethem, Region 9. However, this ignores the child’s report to her mother and other relatives, identifying her stepfather as the person who interfered with her.
The mother told officials of the Child Care and Protection Agency that after the child began to show signs that she was pregnant, the matter was reported to the police in the interior location.
However, yesterday police sources could not find any evidence that the woman had reported that her 12-year-old daughter had been impregnated.
“This thing is becoming disgusting; we have to listen to the child – that is our job, we cannot ignore her. Someone has to take responsibility for what has happened,” Green told the Chronicle during her interview.

DOUBLE JEOPARDY
Green said further that when the window period has passed and it is found that the child is HIV positive it would be double jeopardy for her and that is a very sad situation to think about.
She reminded that in rape cases there is no provision for bail of the accused but that comes at the discretion of the magistrate who would have to take several things into consideration. Green spoke of the possibility of the accused intimidating the accuser, among some of the considerations.
Yesterday Crime Chief Leslie James confirmed that the stepfather of the child is in custody to assist in the police investigations. The Crime Chief also reported to this publication that based on his last update of the mater on Tuesday afternoon, the child who had initially indicated that she was impregnated by her stepfather began recanting her claims.
According to the Crime Chief, when these things happen where victims of such crimes recant their initial stories, the work of the police and all other agencies involved become extra difficult.

(By Leroy Smith)