— Minister Lawrence alarmed at rate of child abuse in Linden

By Vanessa Braithwaite
WITH 52 cases of child sexual abuse and 267 cases of child abuse in Linden in the first seven months of the year, Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence said serious attention is being paid to ‘stamp out’ the situation. She gave the assurance at a rally in observance of Child Protection , themed ‘Break the silence’ on Wednesday in the mining town of Linden.

Lawrence told the well-attended rally that her ministry and the Child Protection Department have serious business to ‘take care of’ in Region 10 and no one should be silent.
“We are silent because we want to wear a ring; some of us, we are silent because we want people to know we have a partner; some of us, we are silent because we owe Courts; we owe Singers; we want things; some of us, we are silent because we gotta pay the rent; we gotta eat; we gotta live and some of us, we are silent because we too were abused and some parents are very bold to tell their children so what if it happen to you, it happen to me too,” she pointed out.
Lawrence said investigations suggest that the figures are way higher than what is reported and because of this, her ministry is in action mode.
“I’ve started to do myself and my staff and we are here in Linden today but even as we set out to do, we need you to hold our hands, we need you to reach out and touch, we need you to give hope to those persons who are afraid to come forward.”
She also urged persons to address other social issues, and called on teachers and health workers to play a role in breaking the silence.
LENGTHY PROCESS
Minister Lawrence also bemoaned the bureaucratic process of bringing the abusers to justice. She said too many battles are lost in court because of insufficient evidence as a result of limited investigations.
“It takes too long; at the end of the day you are dealing with a child and the child is tired… the case started when the child is three, the child is 33 and the case still going on.”
The Social Protection Ministry is engaging the Chancellor of the Judiciary, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General to put more efficient systems in place to address the situation.
“That is why the Ministry of Social Protection welcomes the night courts, because we believe that it will work in our interest and the public’s interest.”
SHORTCOMINGS
The minister also pointed out that there are far too few officers to deal with the many cases from Region 10, but the ministry is in the process of strengthening the regional office and will forge closer collaboration with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other stakeholders.
Child Care Protection Agency Director Ann Green said reported cases of child abuse are just a tip of the iceberg, noting that child sexual abuse is a hidden crime.
She pointed out that most of the children are silent because they are too young to speak or to even understand what is going on. Greene stressed that abuse mostly occurs in the home and by trusted persons, and parents should be cautious in whose care their child is left.
Deputy Representative of UNICEF Paolo Marchi underscored that breaking the silence is everyone’s responsibility.
“We need to work together, we need to break the silence, breaking the silence is every body’s business… if we fail to act today, if we fail to act tomorrow, we are failing our children,” he affirmed.
Representatives of faith-based organisations and other stakeholders in Region 10, including the Regional Democratic Council, the Mayor and Town Council, the Guyana Police Force and the Linden Hospital Complex also spoke at the rally.
The rally , though starting over an hour late, was well attended by schoolchildren, members of NGOs, residents and regional and Government officials.
According to statistics, in Linden from January to July, some 52 cases of child sexual abuse and 267 cases of child abuse were recorded. During that period, 441 cases of sexual abuse and 2238 cases of child abuse were recorded countrywide.
Child Protection Week is observed annually to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of primary prevention in a bid to reduce child abuse and neglect in society.