Child’s negative HIV test no yardstick to determine suspect’s innocence- Ann Green
Stepfather in custody, child recants allegation against him

THE man who allegedly has impregnated his 12-year-old step-daughter is claiming in some sections of the media that he is HIV positive; and that the child’s negative HIV test exonerates him.
Director of the Child Care &Protection Agency (CCPA), Ann Green, has however, strongly refuted this.Speaking with this newspaper yesterday morning the Child Care Director confirmed that the suspect was at her office and he has since been handed over to the police. Green reminded this reporter that there is an incubation period to determine if someone has contracted HIV; and if the girl is not HIV positive at this stage, that does not mean that she has not been infected.
Green said that the department has no option at this stage but to believe the story of the young lady, 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 a young baby; and while her mother was out, the man whom she described as her stepfather entered the room and raped her.
According to the young lady’s story to the agency, she was afraid of the man and did not report the matter to anyone and by the time she travelled back to the interior location where she originally resides, her belly began to rise.
“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 shield the suspect by claiming that the child had got pregnant for a young man in the interior area of Lethem Region 9, this, despite the claims of the child to her mother and other relatives that it was her stepfather who interfered with her.
The mother told officials of the CC&PA that after the child began to show signs of pregnancy, the matter was reported to the police at the interior location; but yesterday police sources could not find any evidence that the woman had reported the matter.
“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 went on to relate to the Chronicle during her interview.
Green said that if the window period passes 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 this reporter that in rape cases it is possible for the accused to be granted bail, but that is at the discretion of the magistrate, who would have to take several factors into consideration. Green spoke of the possibility of the suspect intimidating the victim, among some of the considerations.
Yesterday Crime Chief, Leslie James confirmed that the stepfather of the child is indeed in custody and attempts were being made to have him questioned. The Crime Chief also reported to this publication that based on his last update of the matter on Tuesday afternoon, the child who had initially indicated that she had been impregnated by her stepfather, began recanting her claims.
According to the Crime Chief, when victims of such crimes recant their initial stories, the work of the police and all other agencies involved become extra difficult.

(By Leroy Smith)