By Nafeeza Yahya

THE man who is accused of raping his three stepdaughters, ages four, seven and 10, was apprehended by police early Saturday morning at his home.Commander of the Police’s ‘B’ Division, Ian Amsterdam, told the Guyana Chronicle that they are awaiting the report from the Child Protection Agency in order to institute charges against the man. The mother remains in police custody and is expected to be charged with neglect.
The man is said to be in his late 30s and is a known alcoholic and drug addict in his community. This newspaper reported on Saturday that the three sisters were raped last week on multiple occasions. The suspect resided on the East Bank of Berbice (EBB), with the mother and a few of her 14 children. The couple is said to have one child together.
According to information reaching this newspaper, the girls were found sleeping in the vicinity of the Edingburgh seawall, EBB, around 08:45hrs on Thursday morning by School Welfare Officers. The girls claimed that they were beaten and thrown out of the house by the stepfather, thus they decided to sleep on the seawall.
Residents outraged

“He always beating them children. Sometimes he does pelt coconut on them head and suh; one a dem head did buss de other day. He does drink and smoke and behave bad.”

Residents of the closely knit village were in a state of shock and expressed outrage and disgust after learning of the incident. Many blamed the mother for what had happened.
The mother is said to also be in her 30s and has 14 children; however, 13 are from previous relationships. She has 11 girls and three boys, the youngest being four- months-old and only four of the children live with her. The other children reside with relatives.
According to residents, the mother is a domestic worker and would leave home early in the morning and return late in the evening. The children would be left with their stepfather.
“These are people to keep far from, sometimes you see these children they are hungry and you call them in for a snack the mother would curse you. You gotta hide and give them; she’s a disappointment, she would rather see those children starve. She’s a careless woman who should be charged and made an example so that others would think twice before leaving their children alone,” one upset resident told this newspaper.
Another neighbour who was moved to tears, said she saw the children late on Wednesday evening and inquired why they were not at home, only to be told that they were put out of the house by the stepfather.
According to the neighbour, the sisters claimed that they had no idea where their mother was. The neighbour also noted that the stepfather is very abusive towards the children.
“He always beating them children. Sometimes he does pelt coconut on them head and suh; one a dem head did buss de other day. He does drink and smoke and behave bad,” the neighbour claimed.
Another resident, who is a mother of three, expressed her disappointment with the situation.
“This whole incident is so disappointing; this woman should have never leave her kids like that, she goes out from morning until late in the nights and those girls have to be home with their stepfather. She don’t be there to see what he doing.”
The three girls attend school within close proximity to their home and would often be seen in the streets or playing on the seawall. They were described as being very mannerly by neighbours.
A medical examination confirmed that the girls were sexually assaulted; they remain hospitalised and are receiving counselling.