Child sex abuse cases rising by the month – official

Cases of sexual abuse are the highest forms of abuse committed against Dominica’s children this year, according to the Welfare Division.

Chief Welfare Officer Martin Anthony said sex abuse cases have been rising by the month and that challenge could continue well into 2011.

“We continue to see from our records a number of children are still being abused; we see sexual abuse topping the various forms of abuse and on a monthly basis, we are seeing that is showing, that sexual abuse of our children,” he said.

The majority of reports on the child sex abuse matter here are “factual”. A recent UNICEF study conducted in six countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, showed child sexual abuse is a problem in Dominica.

But the Welfare head says officials will take on the challenge.

“We’re committing ourselves in providing the necessary resources; if a child has to be taken from an environment that is not conducive, we continue to respond by having the child taken into foster care. We continue to work for the development and the formal opening for the residential Place of Safety at Jimmit,” Anthony added.

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48 Comments

  1. Kalinago
    May 19, 2015

    Personally as a parent/parents I do not think you should trust anyone with your children. Extended Family do not believe in that, it’s one of the places where a lot of abuse occurs. Some mothers every weekend they out and just leaving their children home with anybody or sometimes by themselves.

  2. cherfond
    December 21, 2010

    Somehow, sexual abuse of children has to be eradicated from our society at some point. The most sad outcome is that a sexually abused child if not properly treated will become some type of abuser in their adult life; hence the ongoing cycle of abuse. But then again, who is going to safeguard the children when above 80% of abusers either resides within the home or is an uncle, cousin, trusted next door neighbour or friend. The home is supposed to be a child’s safest domain. We need to get practical in the manner in which the issue is handled.

  3. hope
    December 21, 2010

    I know the welfare officers are trying, they just do not have what they need to make it happen like so many other sectors, however, i believe so much more can be done. Your follow-ups are prolonged and some of your officers are tired and lack the passion and persuasion to get the job done.

    i will do my part but i am of the opinion our welfare department needs to do more for the sake of the children.

  4. Tainted
    December 21, 2010

    As I’ve always said more of the cases go on not reported due to shame, embarassment, fear and we as parents need to do more to make sure our kids are protected. If we are there for them, love them they will have more confidence in us as parents to inform us of any abuse whatsoever. Some of us have lost all sense of moral values and it’s all about the bling, bling and therefore prostitute our own kids to get the blings for us. I think the court should have harsher punishments to ensure that those who commit these offenses are out of society for a long time and in the case of men who abuse young girls and boys they should be emasculated (castrated). Kids out there if your parents threaten you, you tell someone go to the police don’t live with these abusers. no child should be a sex slave especially if the parents are involved. Let’s all do our part as a community and if we notice any signs of abuse and the welfare does not do anything go to the police call the radio station expose thoses bastards for who they are. Please protect our kids, our future. To any abuser who’d think of abusing one of my family member I don’t NORMALLY advocate violence but I’d like you to know if this is your intent this would be your last act. Protect our kids.

  5. Princess
    December 20, 2010

    That is one thing that will always go on and no one will noticed, because in most cases the person who is the rapist wether is a man or woman will have something over that child’s head and make it clear to them if you talk this and that will happen to you is not that you do not want to say something, but due to the fact the person is watching every move you make it is impossible for you. Sometimes that makes you sick to your stomach so parents talk to your children at all times, i am so sorry always the little ones that have to suffer, bring back hanging so they will pay with their life. thank you

  6. Protecting Our Children
    December 20, 2010

    People this thing is like a plague, it’s going on all over the world not just our country. The men and yes women who commit these offenses are very cunning, they know it is wrong so they make sure to cover their tracks…. so please stop blaming the women as if they bring these animals to their homes just to abuse their children. Some of these women too are victims…and you would think that they could spot another dog a mile away…but these animals are smart they treat the parent good just to get to the kids…so it’s hard for the parent to then believe that child when he/she comes crying that this thing touched them…I believe this issue has remained quiet for too long…I don’t understand why something has to escalate to a major problem before we talk about it and name and shame those animals….because a lot of them are repeat offenders.
    Our law can be a joke sometimes….If any man, woman or animal hurt my kids….I’m carrying out my own damn death sentence! There is too much wickedness and evil in this world. They do it once, you give them a slap on the hand…of course they will do it again! WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN AND PREVENT AND STOP THESE PREDATORS !

  7. kkkkk
    December 20, 2010

    well its hard for our kids not to get abused here because men just making kids with all kind of different women so there is no stability in the home and thats where it all starts

    • June 18, 2014

      So true.

      People have sex sex outside of marriage.

      Single women are having babies. They struggle to raise the kids without the help of a husband. The little ones grow up without the role model of a father in the home. The daughters follow Mum’s “example”, get pregnant, and there is another mouth to feed. The sons experiment with drugs, and sleep around.

      The single woman snags a boyfriend and gets him to move in with her to help pay the bills and support the kids. The boyfriend takes a shine to the woman’s daughter – or son if he is a bi pedophile – and the abuse begins.

      All this happens because people refuse to live by the moral code God has given us in the New Testament. They insist no Bible thumping religious fanatic is going to tell them who they can or cannot “love”, and they tell us what they do behind closed doors is nobody else’s business.

      Until these people are willing to open their hearts and lives to God and come under the authority of HIS rule there is little can be done about heir lifestyle. Sadly they will reap the consequences and new generations will repeat he performance.

      However, something can be done regarding the women who accept hush money, or know a boyfriend or even a husband is molesting one of their children and refuse to report him to the police because he is paying the bills. Woman who do this are literally pimping their children.

      Politicians need to get laws on the books that can be used to call these women to account. Judges should hand down sentences that are severe enough to put an end to this nastiness.

      Doctors, nurses, social workers, counselors, foster care case workers, and teachers, and even neighbors must know that they are responsible to report possible evidence of abuse.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.

  8. No Name 2
    December 19, 2010

    23 comments alone????

    Alas our people…..

  9. Jay
    December 19, 2010

    When welfare knows of cases and the mothers that say “who will feed me and pay the rent?” and the cases just die there, that is the problem. When people call welfare to tell them about the lady that accepting money all day long and fellers line up on her 10 year old at night and they do nothing; that is the problem. When the case reaches the court and because people know the man(if I can call them that) and they get a slap on the wrist; that is the problem. When we don’t teach our children that to spread your legs for a top-up is sick; that is the problem.

  10. 57-year old man being castrated for 17 year girl
    December 19, 2010

    German man incensed that his 17-year-old daughter was dating a 57-year-old man allegedly castrated the boyfriend with a bread knife.
    According to the Telegraph, Helmut Seifert, a German man originally from Russia, decided to engage in the vigilante castration after police in the German town of Bielefeld told him they could not stop the couple from meeting.
    CBS reports that the man told police, “You said you couldn’t stop him – so I did. I saw it as my duty as a father.”
    Seifert is a factory worker in the town, and recruited two accomplices to help him with the act. He has pled guilty to the charges, but refuses to name his helpers. He will be charged with attempted murder next year.
    The victim, Phillip Genscher, is expected to survive. The Telegraph reports that German police said:
    The man was forced to remove his trousers and, fully conscious, he was castrated. The severed testicles were taken away by the perpetrator.

    • June 12, 2014

      I am sorry for this violent crime. We do not advocate vigilante “justice”. This terrible act is contrary to what I believe in as a Christian and a minister of the gospel.

      However, I do understand the frustration the father felt. Let it be noted that he went to the police first. Did the police even go and talk to the man? This was a horrible crime that might have been avoided if the government had given the public better laws and given the police the laws they needed to use as “tools” to lay an appropriate charge against the man.

      Your politicians should be doing some real soul searching. That is if they even give a #@&%*# :!:

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.

  11. simple mind
    December 19, 2010

    Alas!!!!not just the other day the court send a pastor or brother(whichever)to do community service with his bible in hand ,after an abuse case.Ohhhhhhhh!

    • May 18, 2015

      Simple Mind:

      Your poorly written comment makes absolutely no sense.

      By casting a slur at pastors or brothers all you do is show you are in the devil’s camp!

      If you opposed those who sexually abuse children you would know the pastors are on the same side you are on.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.

  12. ABUSED!
    December 19, 2010

    children see bling and crave the bling go for the bling. Mom and Dad cant afford. what do they do, mmmmmm put adults in compromising situation (they go after the vulnerable adults) to get/buy them the bling. Males whose fathers dont pay serious attention to them are most vulnerable to predators, and they (the young men) dont complain when they are misused by these predators. why? because our society hates gays so the young men do not want to be branded as gay so they keep their mouths shut and enjoy/flash their bling. child abuse? stupes, Too much talk and no action. (shakes my head)

    • Protecting Our Children
      December 20, 2010

      Let the action start with you….what’s your action?

    • May 18, 2015

      Numerous studies have shown that homosexuals are three times as likely to abuse a child as heterosexuals.

      Females and males often do not report the abuse because they are afraid they will not be believed or they are ashamed. In the case of males they are often afraid they will not be allowed to be friends with the older male or they will be made to stay away from the park or wherever it took place. This is especially true with boys who have not had strong father figure in the home. They are left craving the friendship of an older man.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.

  13. CONCERNED DOMINICAN
    December 19, 2010

    people cannot blaming it on men only sometimes women do it to but even though is women that bringing them pigs and aholes into there damn home we should start bag castrating theS.O.B’s and them women dont just trust anybody in ur home he may be good with you but only in the end u will know always do ur best to keep ur children in eyes range unless u really know that they are okay do not introduce them to ur children

    i just doe know wat wrong with men .:?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?:

  14. Expat
    December 19, 2010

    Credit to the Government of the day for agreeing to tackle this massive problem facing our society. We need to reach out to the family unit as a whole as we will find that most of these parents whose young ones are being abused we they themselves abused. In many families, particularly in rural areas, the problem isn’t seen as a problem but as something that just happens within families. We need alot more of our young people to go into the field of social science and return to serve their community to help educate these people who are faced with such problems. Also there should be harsher punishment for the perpetrators of such crimes. Not the six months handed down to a well known gentleman in our capital who has engaged in such behaviour for years, with the knowledge of the victim’s parent and his wife.

  15. gaynproud
    December 18, 2010

    DNO I notice you not publishing my post. You rather post information on rapist and child abuse than the facts I post! Fly your Kite still ! A huricane will meet that Kite one day.

    ADMIN
    I have no idea what you’re talking. And I have never flied a kite in my life, and the imaginary one you have for me will keep flying trust me on that. Many of you haters are just waiting for us to die. Some Dominicans are too childish and vindictive: when you don’t get your way (sometimes out of a simple misunderstanding), you paint people all kinds of colour and wish death and destruction on them. DNO will be here to stay. This is not a fly-by-night captain at the helm, remember that Gay and Proud. You will tired to see the kite flying.

    • Proud
      December 19, 2010

      Past tense of ‘Fly’ is ‘Flown’

    • under the radar
      December 19, 2010

      why are you gay and proud?

  16. FED UP DOMINICAN
    December 18, 2010

    Shocking, disturbing & sick are just three words that come to mind.

    This is an age old problem that has been left to simmer in the background. We are all guilty of pretending it does not happen, or that if it did its not that bad and that it only happens in certain families. In fact it can happen to anyone, anywhere.

    At last the powers that be are taking it seriously. We the everyday person MUST also take it seriously. Dont make excuses for these misfits, when caught give them long jail sentences. Charge those who attempt to cover it up. Poverty is no excuse. Material things dont last for ever, but our children are for ever.

    As a mother and Grandmother, I feel very strongly about this and I am just greatful that it never happened to me or my loved ones.

    I am sadden (not surprised) that there are only a few comments, while political stories get hundreds of comments. Lets get our priorities right and put our children first.

    • kkkkk
      December 20, 2010

      mammy dominican pple is jokers all that is talk they dont have resources to do anything about child sexual abuse here

  17. bumble bee
    December 18, 2010

    Welfare under my foot! is what they want to deal with they dealing with,they play cat and mouse games when to investigate,i rememberi i tried calling Welfare 20 times for a man who was sexually abusing his children and all they say…who to help you not “dere” there.Rotten system,i can never call them again.Good Riddance welfare.all you not helping the system….just talk.go into primary schools and find out what is happening to our children.if i ever get to know anything again….i will castrate the man myself.

    • kkkkk
      December 20, 2010

      i agree with you 100% my fren dem pple dere is more joke

  18. hard cure da
    December 18, 2010

    some of alu only talking about sex abuse bout its all about sending yr child school with no snake, leaving the children home alone, those farmers that taking their child from school to carry bananas, and most of all those rapes bus drivers that taking advantage of those poor children helping their brook ass when they become old. please give those children a chance. i waiting for one of alu child molester.
    and those worthless negars that site on the road side and trouble those children their time is coming .

  19. Anonymous
    December 18, 2010

    its about time we do something about this crap, let these men pay for thier crimes….men as well as women cuz some mothers jolly well know its happening to thier kids….please dca lets take stand against child abusers…..

  20. LOST
    December 18, 2010

    so the only thig u all wanna do is get the children out of the home where they were abused!!! u all not taking these matters to court!!! what hypocretes!!! this country really is DOOMED!!!

    • Jay
      December 19, 2010

      Yes and they keep hiding those with big names and big jobs. Hypocracy to the max!!! But watch my children, it will not go so.

    • Protecting Our Children
      December 20, 2010

      LOST – Our country isn’t DOOMED at all…that’s where the problems lie…people like you believe that the system is crap..our country is backward and then do nothing…WE…THE PEOPLE…are our country …Let thousands of us demonstrate in Roseau and walk to the office of our prime minister and let him know that ..he.. as our leader need to take a stand and help of fight these issues which are affecting us, and not just leave the matter in the hands of people who quite frankly ‘know not what they do’…because that’s their way of asking for help now…they tried to cover this up for so long, like you said just pull the kids out of the home, the animals are left to find a new home with other kids to abuse…the child is left scarred with no help…WE NEED TO ACT…WE NEED TO RESCUE OUR KIDS…OUR COUNTRY!

  21. khaki
    December 18, 2010

    I am very happy to know that the authorities are now looking in to the problem of sexual abuse on our Island. Some time ago I wrote about this, but no one seemed to care, I guess that the serpent must have knocked on one of the so called authorities door step.Now they want to do something, it’s almost too late the damages are already done.However, I support the idea of taking some action.As I keep on traveling to Dominica year after year, I have made certain observations. I have noticed and also spoken with some of the young people on the Island, and what I found out is really disturbing. There are many pedophile offenses being committed in Dominica and lots of time it’s not reported. Specifically among the mini passenger bus drivers and under age school children. I noticed one day while riding a passenger bus, a young school girl was very adamant about sitting in the front seat of a particular bus. I wanted to know why was that, so I decided to miss my stop just so I could satisfy my curiosity. I got off where the young lady got off and proceeded to ask her why she insisted in sitting at the front of the bus and no where else, she said to me,” That is my man bus and I’m not sitting no where else than the front seat.” The conversation went on but I rather not reveal the rest of it. A lot of what I discovered is that, many of these kids are doing what they do because the parents cannot afford the demands of the children due to the fact that they are unemployed, the fathers are not involved in the lives of the children,generally speaking poverty is the basic cause of such situation. However, with that said, I hold the adult males responsible, they should not be exploiting the vulnerable girls. It is wrong and people need to come forward and report these incidents,so that police can do something about it. Please pay more attention to the mini bus drivers in particular. This is a fact it is happening. I wish that these monsters burn in hell.This is my two sense

    • Jay
      December 19, 2010

      we will only make headway when the law has changed, so that once there is evidence or a witness the case will proceed. Mothers and victims too often refuse to press charges, or continue the legal process, and those bastards walk around laughing and looking for someone else to do it to.

      • Protecting Our Children
        December 20, 2010

        Very True Jay…very true indeed….that’s why this mess is created now and welfare don’t know what the hell to do with it….we all need to ensure that this shit does not enter our homes…and help the home that we know is being affected by it.

  22. WHAT A JOKE
    December 18, 2010

    SAD ……………ALL START CASTRATING THOSE PIGS AND DCAN WOMEN STOP TRUSTING NEIGBORS IN YOUR HOUSE OR FAMILY FRIEND

  23. YES
    December 18, 2010

    YES yes yes, Dominican play blind mice to what is going on in DA……..every thing these days are about politics…now our children need our protection, first from parents and then government. Mothers Fathers lets educate our children…protect them cause it’s our duty too….

    Teach them from small…..feed them well, then they won’t stave for anything if we teach them values…..must of all love them above all others…

    Knowledge is power….
    Please take off the blindfolds….

  24. positive thinka
    December 18, 2010

    that is a shame. government should focus all of its resources to eradicate this cancer in our society. wake up dominicans this is not good for all of us. we never know whose child will be next.

  25. Mommy's girl
    December 18, 2010

    we need to have a protest where placards etc will be advertised of no abuse, condem abuse, castrate the propertraters etc. serious! we need to march around town with this protest.

    • saved
      December 19, 2010

      sure we need to demonstrate against this evil which is destroying the very fabric of society- our children.

    • Protecting Our Children
      December 20, 2010

      I AGREE 100%..LET’s WORK OUT DATE, TIME AND PLACE…!

  26. One Day
    December 18, 2010

    I am glad to see the parents and children are now saying NO to hush money. I hope many more reports will surface about the grown old men and business men who prey on the underage girl for various materialistic things. We getting there!!!

  27. Dread!
    December 18, 2010

    Sad… being a mother myself I am saddened by this. We really need to look at our children closely and look at who we entrust them to.

  28. real possie
    December 18, 2010

    unless we stop these grown men waitn when school out to go after them and the parents for taking
    hush money this will never stop once when i came dwn had this guy he wld walk his daughter to school back and forth so no one cld say any thing to her thats good but after he dropped her home
    he wld go back by the school and call these little girls saying come let me tell u that we almost had a fight for that the laws has to change to stop these things from going on where is MOUTH OF THE SOUTH AKA ASANGE u hiding or dno put u on a wk probation lol

    • vacation
      December 19, 2010

      MOTZ said he gone on Vaca for 2 weeks! .. so no comments

  29. The Purnisher
    December 18, 2010

    Let me get hold of these abuser in their a** and they will pay darely…..u abuser will see far more than stocky…..

  30. guada man
    December 18, 2010

    I am taken aback by the fact that this serious matter is not even commented on, this says how bias and un sympathetic our dominican people have become,seems like our people have become so political that they ignor the so very points, i am sure if it was a poitical subject you would have gotten at that time so many comments,elas dominica wake up, people are more important than any other thing politics included.the laws should be stiffened to deter these perpetrators,

    • Wow
      December 20, 2010

      and to be worth the embarrassment and shame to the children, because we all know the nasty comments some people make when these cases are published.

  31. ALAS
    December 18, 2010

    So sad… we do need to put more effort in securing our children safety.
    Being abused scars people for life… i know, its not easy.

    The welfare division needs to start making some real action… so many offender out there.
    P.S Please do a thorough cleanup in the Carib Territory, those men and even the women who hide those incidents are monsters!!!!

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