–says Child Protection Director

DIRECTOR of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), Ann Greene has said measures will be put in place to ensure children who commit criminal offences are properly detained by the Guyana Police Force.

Greene was speaking on a recent television programme, the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported.
“There is a Juvenile Justice Act, and it says that a child is criminally responsible at the age of 14, but it does not say that a child under the age of 14 cannot be charged,” Greene said.
“However, our mandate at the Childcare and Protection Agency is to work along with the Guyana Police Force to establish processing centres to properly handle juvenile matters, rather than to place a minor into a jail cell,” she added.

When a child is picked up by the police, the processing centres will provide an opportunity for the social worker and police officer to carry out a thorough investigation to prepare a pre-charge report.
“A juvenile must be held accountable for an act, and when encountered by the police, they must be placed in a system where rehabilitation can be administered immediately. Also, the holding area must be child-friendly,” Greene stated, according to the DPI.

Once in the processing centres, she said, juveniles will undergo psychological evaluation to establish the reason(s) for their actions.
“We need to know their education level, their living condition, and also acquire information to reach out to parents or guardians. This will be enough time to assess cases and get an understanding when the matter is put before the court,” Director Greene said.

Another area of concern To the CPA, the Director pointed out, is the removal of children who are begging on the streets, specifically at stop lights around Georgetown, and as such is urging parents and the public to ensure that children are off the streets and kept in their homes.
“We are holding the parents accountable; they must keep their children off the streets. The children are being exposed and exploited; persons are saying all manner of things to them. People can also take them away; it’s a risk being at street corners begging,” she warned.
Greene disclosed that an exercise to remove children off the streets was conducted last Friday. The children were placed at the Agency’s head office, while social workers contacted their parents and guardians.