THE Ministry of Social Protection, in collaboration with Blossom Incorporated, the Child Care and Protection Agency, and RIVAH, has opened a new Children’s Advocacy Centre (CAC) at Three Friends Village on the Essequibo Coast.The intention is to provide a safe and comfortable place for children who are victims of abuse, and for their non-offending family members to access child abuse services.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Region 2 Chairman Mr Devanand Ramdatt said he was very pleased that the advocacy centre has been opened in the region, as he believes in the ‘public-private partnership’ (PPP) approach. He therefore expressed his gratitude to Digicel, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Beharry Group of Companies for supporting the work of Blossom Incorporated through the Children’s Advocacy Centres in Regions 2, 3, 4, and 5.

The regional chairman noted that sexual abuse is one of the worst forms of abuse in the world, and he said the Pomeroon/Supenaam region has in the country one of the highest rates of suicide involving children.

Ramdatt said he firmly believes that young people are an asset to be developed, and not a problem to be dealt with.

Senior Probation and Welfare Officer of the Ministry of Social Protection Phillip Anthony, also team leader of Region 2, said yesterday’s event marks an important achievement, because another Children’s Advocacy Centre has been opened in the country.

While acknowledging that the State is mandated to provide protection for the nation’s children, Anthony commended Blossom Incorporated and donors such as Digicel Guyana, the Beharry Group of Companies, and GGMC for opening another centre at Three Friends on the Essequibo Coast.

Digicel Guyana’s Marketing Executive Ms Jacqueline James, in her address, thanked Blossom Incorporated for inviting the company to be on board for the opening of the new Children’s Advocacy Centre. She said Blossom had indeed climbed the ladder, and Digicel is supporting the entity to create a safe haven for the nation’s children.

Commander Adonis of the Police ‘G’ Division called for all to collaborate to rid the society of “sick” members. He advised that this has to start from within the homes, and he called for parents to be involved. The commander said children must be happy at home.

He said some people are complaining from the inside, and not from the outside; but in such cases, no one will know what is happening.

Commander Adonis also took the media to task, calling for investigative journalism before sensitive articles involving children are published in the press. He said the police welcome all non-governmental organisations coming on board to help combat sexual and physical abuse.

The commander said the police are always in support of dealing with such issues.

Shaundell Shipley who chaired the programme, said the launch of the Region 2 CAC coincides with the activities for Child Protection Week, which is being observed during the period September 20th to 26th under the theme: “Strengthening Families to Protect Children”.

She said the first CAC in Guyana was established in November 2013, and to date there are five centres, including the one at Three Friends. She said there are plans to develop more centres across the country.

Some of the services that will be offered at the centre are forensic interviews, crisis interventions, counselling, trauma-focused therapy, parenting sessions, child and family advocacy; and referrals such as medical examination; social services assistance; case review and tracking; and education and prevention activities.
(Rajendra Prabhulall in Essequibo)