POLICE at Port Kaituma are expected to return to a remote mining community in the Region One area today in search of several males who may be responsible for impregnating two underage girls from the community.The police are also in search of a 10-year old girl, said to be a sibling of the pregnant 12-year old girl, amid reports that the two young ladies were being trafficked by their father.
The 12-year-old, who is in an advanced stage of pregnancy and a 13-year-old who gave birth two weeks ago, were brought to the city last weekend after they were rescued by members of the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO) group.
Yesterday, head of the GWMO Urica Primus told this newspaper that Region One Coordinator Stephanie Miguel is expected to return to the area, located some 6 hours away by road from Port Kaituma, along with the police today.
The police are expected to take a statement from the mother of the 13-year old, who delivered the baby. She said the young ladies provided at least six names to the police, one of whom is said to be a miner who was living with the 13-year old girl.
Miguel told this newspaper from Port Kaituma that the area is one which is poverty-stricken, since small scale mining activities subsided some time ago.
She said the Carib-speaking community depends on mining as an economic activity to supplement their incomes. However, a prominent miner from the Coastland was granted permission to mine on concessions of land in the area, leaving the men with little means of earning an income since all mining activities occur at the miner’s discretion.
She said that there are many children residing there and since the nearest school is 15-20 mile away, the children grow up with little or no exposure to the school environment.
Miguel recounted that when she visited the community last week, persons appeared tight-lipped as regards the identities of the persons responsible for impregnating the two girls. She said the terrain in the area is difficult and there is a challenge for the police in carrying out their work given the unwillingness of the community to interact with visitors.
A tip was given to the GWMO by a resident regarding the situation in the village, including allegations that the father of the 12-year old girl was collecting sums of monies from miners in the area, as payment to sleep with the girl and her 10-year old sibling.
“We were told that he was even collecting ration from the men there as payment,” Miguel added.
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES
The mother of the girls died last year under suspicious circumstances, which were pointed at the father who is said to be abusive. The man was said to be making arrangements for his 10-year old daughter to live with a man in the area. That arrangement fell through when the GWMO visited last week and the young lady and a younger sibling subsequently disappeared from the area.
Recounting the event, Miguel said the two rescued girls were “very ill” when the team visited the community; the young mother appeared “white” while the pregnant 12-year old was complaining of pains about her body.
Since there is no health facility in the community, the team subsequently took the girls to the Port Kaituma Hospital and staff there advised that they be transferred to the city to seek further attention.
Primus said Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton visited the girls over the weekend and upbraided hospital staff to provide better care to them. He is expected to carry out follow-up visits. She said the 13-year old is experiencing a low blood count and Primus called on the authorities to relocate the girls to a socially effective environment. “We are asking that the two girls do not end up at the Amerindian Hostel,” Primus said.
The GWMO has been active in carrying out activities in the hinterland aimed at protecting children and preventing abuse of women. The organisation funds itself and Primus noted that its members utilise their own monies to carry out its mandate.
Yesterday, a workshop was held in the city to address child rights in the extractive sector and a number of presentations were aimed at highlighting the importance of the rights of children. Presenters agreed that children living in areas in proximity to extractive businesses are always vulnerable and Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin called on businesses to be aware of the rights of children and the malpractices which occur.

By Alva Solomon