RESIDENTS in an East Berbice Corentyne village are enraged over the lackadaisical way in which the authorities are handling an alleged rape case involving a 14-year-old girl who gave birth on Saturday morning.

The child, who suffers from a hearing disability, had claimed that she was raped by her step-father. Even though a report was made to the police, the stepfather was never arrested.
A relative explained that the teenager was left alone with the stepfather earlier this year during which he allegedly raped her while he was under the influence of alcohol.

The Sunday Chronicle understands that the child told her mother about the alleged rape but the mother did not believe her; instead, the mother and the stepfather gave her a sound thrashing.
The child was eventually sent to live with a relative three weeks ago; she refused to eat and the relative took her to a nearby Health Centre where the medical team revealed she was 33 weeks and five days pregnant.

“When the mother bring her, she said the child and she stepfather keep getting problems and if me can keep she for a little while,” the relative said.
According to the relative, she did not believe when the doctors told her the teenager was pregnant.

“I did not believe because she belly just swell a little and I thought they were wrong so I carry her to do an ultrasound and they confirm that she was 33 weeks pregnant.”
The relative immediately confronted the mother who also denied that the child was pregnant.

“She (the victim) tell she big sister since she understand her and she (the sister) explained to me and the mother what happened but them keep saying the child is lying and beat she again. So I carry her to the probation officer and they are investigating but said they will have to do a blood test when the child born,” the relative noted.

Residents and relatives are angry that the suspect is yet to be arrested and are calling on the authorities to act swiftly so that justice can be served. Meanwhile, when contacted, a senior police officer said he was unaware of the matter.