Dear Editor

Sometimes, I tend to wonder are we for real, fake or foolish to use various avenues to galvanise momentum or cause distraction on the execution of our Constitutional offices.

As I was going through the Chronicle newspaper, I had to pause for a moment when I saw an article on the Rights of the Child Commission continued advocacy for the rights of equal opportunities for every child (which) made me elated and disappointed at the same time.

Every Constitutional body has its roles and functions along with penalties to deal with various issues that plague our society. The question is, are these constitutional bodies delivering their full capacity? For several years now the statistical record would show that many of these Constitutional bodies are under-performing, such as the Rights of the Child Commission, Women and Gender Equality Commission, the Human Rights Commission, The Indigenous Commission and the list goes on. But my focus is primarily the Rights of the Child Commission which is a fundamental body to educate, protect and preserve the future generation of our country.

For several years now the Commission just has a few programmes for each calendar year as a routine to sensitise the public that the Commission is in existence. The body is currently under-staffed, just a few sectoral employees who have to multi-task. Imagine, one investigating officer to cover the boundary of Guyana. I should suggest to the Commission a counselling unit, investigating unit, educational unit, medical unit and such benefitting to deal with different cases.

Investigating officers should be spread across the ten administrative regions and (this) should be in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders and agencies so that no child should be left behind. Those persons who have been found guilty of oppressing and neglecting the child should be dealt with accordingly to the law. At present I applaud the effort that is being made so far, but a lot more is yet to be done. Less talk,more action!

Regards
Bro. Ravi Persaud