MRS. Sandra Granger has not been First Lady of Guyana for a long time, but the interest she is taking in national affairs, particularly with regard to the vulnerable in society, speaks volumes for her future engagements in the office she now holds consequential to her husband’s election to the highest office in the land.She absolutely condemned the practice of child prostitution and trafficking in persons in Guyana during an interview touching on social issues with the Sunday Chronicle. Expressing her distress and disgust at the inhumane and cruel actions of perpetrators who prey on the vulnerable and helpless in society, Mrs. Granger said: “I strongly object to the practice where persons try to use children as prostitutes – male or female. I feel very strongly about protection of children and ensuring that they have, what I would like to believe is a quality childhood, where they could really enjoy themselves, explore and determine what they want to be in life.”

Child prostitution and trafficking in persons are absolutely heinous crimes that proliferate worldwide, and in some societies where poverty is dire, some parents feel driven to sell their own children for pittances – destroying their own children for temporary relief from their pecuniary circumstances.

Many children have been kidnapped and sold; many have been sexually exploited by their own relatives or trusted persons in their lives; many persons – adults and children have been tricked into slavery where they are taken away to distances and situations from which they find impossible to escape and are forced into virtual servitude – either to sexual predators or slave labourers.

In Guyana many persons, especially children and females, have been lured away from their rural or hinterland homes with the promise of jobs or by other means, only to find themselves captives of some horrendous situations.

Expounding on the rights of children, Mrs. Granger reiterated that children ought to be left to enjoy their childhood.

These twin scourges have plagued societies from time immemorial and if the First Lady could successfully address these criminal acts in the Guyana social landscape then her tenure could save many victims from untold, probably lifelong, agony; not to mention lost lives that would have been restored to victims and their loved ones.

She opined that perpetrators should be pursued with the full force of the law.

Mrs. Granger recognised the vital and courageous work of Ms. Simona Broomes and the Women Miners’ Association, who rescued many victims, oftentimes at great risk to themselves, and restored them to their families.
Lamenting on the way young girls are entrapped then used as commodities by unscrupulous persons – either as sex slaves or as free labour force, Mrs. Granger elucidated on the lifelong trauma even those who escape such horrible and horrifying endure, to the extent where they lose a sense of self and self-worth, as well as a complete loss of self-respect and respect from others, where they are no longer seen as persons with rights to the enjoyment of their own lives.

She related: “What I am saying is that they (the young girls) didn’t have a choice. They were just picked up by somebody who promised them food and a better life than where they are in the backdam, servicing some people,” and spoke of some cases where even parents barter their children for gain.

The previous Government had been plagued by public servants not delivering on their mandate. In the Child Protection Services this lackadaisical, laissez faire attitude led to the saga of suffering and eventual murder of Neesa Gopaul by her own mother and stepfather.

This high level of incompetence has undoubtedly caused some animosity between Minister Simona Broomes, who made some caustic remarks about the non-functionality of that department before she assumed her ministerial portfolio, which precipitated an unfortunate series of incidents that eventuated in the Director of that agency being sent on leave.

Many have tried and failed to eradicate this heinous scourge, even in societies more developed than ours, and it is highly commendable for Guyana’s new First Lady to undertake this massive responsibility. Perhaps her zeal and passion may achieve what others have failed to accomplish – make Guyana safe for the vulnerable in society.