Help & Shelter statement on the abuse of children from a primary school

Help & Shelter views with horror and alarm the report in Stabroek News of Saturday 10 November that young children from a Georgetown primary school have been sexually assaulted, allegedly by a businessman at his nearby place of business.

We share the concern expressed by one of the victim’s parents that the man, who is free on station bail, will flee the country. It would appear from the report that the police have sufficient evidence to lay charges and call upon them to act with all possible expedition.

The school and Ministry of Education must explain how the victims, and the older – but still primary age – children who may have taken the victims to the man’s place of business where the assaults reportedly took place, were allowed to leave the school premises, and measures must be immediately put in place to prevent this ever happening again.

We call on the Minister of Human Services and Social Services to urgently intervene to ensure that the young victims and their parents are given the necessary professional care and support to help them through this terrible ordeal. Help & Shelter stands ready to assist in any way that it can.