18Degrees North – Child Abuse in the Caribbean
Link to the video http://www.18degreesnorth.tv/child-abuse-in-the-caribbean/
Highlighting
the 1998 case of 11-year old child victim Akiel Chambers, the presenter hinted
of corruption and/mismanagement by the police and other officials. After
stating that he drowned, it was later revealed that he had been smothered and
molested. It was also noted, “…crucial evidence disappeared, and key suspects
were allowed to leave the country.”
This leads us to think whether it depends on the status, geographic location and race of
the perpetrators and the victims that will decide if justice will be granted or
not. In the aforementioned case, why wasn’t a DNA test done on all the male
adults at the party to determine which matched the sperm found in Akile. This
is indeed a case of lack of justice for victims and their families. It’s an
example of a poorly-handled case in Trinidad and Tobago. Haleland Maraval is
known as an affluent area in Trinidad, can this be the reason as to why no one
has been charged with the murder of Akile Chambers?
Are children being targeted because they are
more gullible and timid, because they are most times scared to speak out?
Then
consider Jerry, a 35year old who is blessed to have survived an abusive
childhood. Abandoned as a babe, he grew up in a home (institution for abandoned
and neglected children) and was assaulted by a “doctor”, until he left at age
18. He had then spoken to the care
givers about his ordeal, but to their disbelief. Jerry has since made several
attempts to get justice for the crime against him as well as highlight the
issues around such. The problem is Jerry’s cry has yet to be heard and dealt
with from a governmental standpoint.
Is it truly that the “Absence of a coherent national
strategy is contributing to the lack of justice for victims,” as was deemed by
the presenter.
On
August 7th 2013, the Express quoted the Gender Youth and Child
Development Minister Marlene Coudray at the opening of 4 new buildings at the
St Mary’s Children Home (SMCH) in Tacarigua.
“We are getting reports very
regularly on abuse to children. I want to assure you that the Ministry is taking
very seriously all these reports of abuse to children at homes and
institutions. I want to make it quite clear that anyone who takes charge of the
care of children and abuses their rights will feel the full weight of the
justice system. The abuse of children of any form will be met with aggressive
action from this Ministry. Abuse of children must stop.”
A few months later…
On
October 14th 2013, a mere months after Mrs Coudray’s speech comes
the death of 2mth old Andre
Mowlah,
who died from multiple fractures to the skull and contusion to the brain at the
hands of a 34yr old male relative. The mother of the child and the relative had
an argument which led to him picking up the child and throwing him to the
ground. The mother claimed “He (the close male
relative) throw down the child on the ground before. He used to say he sorry.
But you cannot be sorry and do it more than once.”
Cases of child abuse in Trinidad and Tobago:
Aliyah
Johnson – two-year old girl suffered a blow to her belly that caused her to
bleed to death.
Akile
Chambers – 11 year old boy smothered and molested and body found in a crouched position in a pool.
Amy
Annamunthodo - four-year old girl whose hair was tied to a piece of cloth and
she was strung to a door frame, she was gagged with a knotted plastic bag and
punched about her body approximately 20 to 30 times.
Bibliography
Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday :
newsday.co.tt :. (n.d.). Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday : newsday.co.tt :.
Retrieved October, from http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,79702.html
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