“This is what we are talking about when we say a perpetrator must be caught and taken care of.”
This is the reaction of Social Worker/Child Right Advocate, Francis Joseph following the sentencing of a child sexual offender from Portsmouth.
Fagan Jno Hope who appeared before High Court Judge Errol Thomas on May 26, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for unlawful sex with a nine-year-old.
Joseph told Dominica News Online on Tuesday that the sentence is good news and is based on the public’s outcry in the past two weeks of a previous case.
“This one will bring some hope to the people,” he said. “We applaud the judiciary and the judge and the DPP’s office and everyone who have been involved in this. We are hoping that under the circumstance that the perpetrators understand the cry of the public in that, we are not going to seat back and see this happen.”
Joseph mentioned further that there need to be some form of support to the members of the victim’s family and those directly affected by the crime.
“We want to also send our support to the members of the family personally, how we feel about this and we feel their pain,” he stated. “The young children involved themselves, that will bring some level of closure for them meaning that this person will not be out there preying on them, but obviously they are going to be needing some good family support, some good support from the church in prayers in that this thing happens to them are not in any way going to impede on their progress towards their full education, their full development.”
Joseph noted that when this happens, the victims and their families feel that something is done and there can be some level of closure to the matter.
He hopes that Dominica will support the cause to reduce incidents of child abuse in Dominica.
“We need the public, we need the police, we need the government, we need NGO’s, we need the radio stations, we need DNO and social media to go out there to really address the cases that are out there and put it in its best way possible that the public understand that it is wrong,” Joseph explained. “Not just reporting it but in the sense of putting some analysis to it on the point of the law, on the point of how personal it affects the children and the impact it has on the development of Dominica. If we have too many of our children who are psychologically affected by these perpetrators, it is obviously going to have some impact on their development…”
He added, “I hope this is a message for all of us that we are on the right track in addressing this matter and we are looking at the support of the judiciary which is of good example of what the public is saying should be done and they need to be congratulated fully for all the work that they have done in the matter of this case.”
Meantime Joseph said he is in support of Bishop of the Diocese of Roseau, His Lordship Gabriel Malzaire’s recent statement at it relates to child sexual abuse
“The Bishop came out with a statement which he read during a religious ceremony which I think was extremely well put that all of us can understand what he felt, what the church now represents and what we as parishioners of not only the catholic church, but of all Christians and of all faith, would want to see that our children are protected,” he stated. “All of us must now compliment the Bishop for standing up and making this professional religious statement which we can be guided by.”
In sexual child abuse cases it appears most people in Dominica want the maximum penalty.
Social workers see the problem at closer range than most of us. They work with broken lives and hurting people. It is significant that a social worker in the person of Child Right Advocate Francis Joseph welcomed the 35 year sentence in the Fagan Jno Hope case.
Judge Errol Thomas did what he believed was right. History will honor him! My prayer is that Mr. Joseph words along with what has been said by many other sane and wise people will encourage him to stay the course and fight the good fight. Let every judge in the county follow this example. Let them send a message to every pedophile and pervert in Dominica that the nonsense is over.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. D.D., International Evangelist. (Pastoral Counselor Certificate)
The rapist is convicted! AMEN! OK! Now let’s focus on the child, what is the plan for her? support yes? how? by posting comments on social media?? Is therapy in the works? Will she be protected in the future? How are the people who know who she is treating her? Sex offenders often prey on past victims, its easier to make them submit yet again. HELP THIS CHILD!! I don’t want to hear about her ten or so years down the line, see her as a loose individual being in charge of her own self abuse. WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR THE CHILD??????????????
SAD:
Thank you!
What you have said here is absolutely true. Every point you have made is valid and so needed.
A government department or NGO in Dominica that focuses on the needs of youthful victims of sexual abuse should already be all over this case. If not they should be contacted. Somebody should see that they have the information they need to take charge of the child’s wellbeing and are DOING so!
Here in Canada I have heard of youthful victims of sexual abuse who developed mental issues in the years to come. I know of some who became abusers themselves, alcoholics, drug addicts, and some who committed suicide. I have no doubt whatsoever that many of these most serious problems could have been avoided if proper care and counseling had been provided.
More attention must be given to the victims and the follow-up must be on-going under professional supervision.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist. (Pastoral Counselor Certificate)
Hats off to Mr. Joseph for fighting the good fight. It’s refreshing to see a professional advocating on behalf of our innocent children on the island. This is not a topic that receives the required attention it deserves. I want to encourage Mr. Joseph to do all in his power to help our poor children.
The numbers presented by Judge Thomas is staggering, given Dominica’s small population. The next phase is to ensure that counseling services are provided for the affected children and their families. No mention was made in the budget appropriations for training of more Social Workers to aid in counseling our affected children.
Then again, the Speaker of the House already laid down the gauntlet as to what matters can be discussed and what matters will not be discussed. Over a quarter of a million dollars was spent to rename a “Foolish” airport, but nothing for training more Social Workers. What a darn shame by this administration.
that vicious evil wicked man just needs to be hanged. simple! He does not deserve to see sunlight ever again.
But I am curious to know how many years this animal will actually spend in jail because it seems to me that jail time is different to time as we know it to be normally. I suspect that he could well be coming out well before the expiration of 35 years.
TRUEEEEEEEEEEEE
They should also be branded with a hot iron!!!!
This is what is desired of every Judge in every country . Throwing the maximum punishment will send a very strong message to the perpretrators that sexual assault/physical abuse on minors/ females is strictly forbidden . Human beings are to be treated with pride and dignity and nothing less . I hope that there is going to be strict consistency for a very long time so that the strong message is absorbed by eveyone and above all to show FAIRNESS and EQUITTY. This is going to help alleviate the issue of sexual abuse in Dominica > Thank you Judge.
Who was his lawyer? He just got the bad end of the apple because he did not have a lawyer. This is just pretense to make people think they are taking this serious. Wait until the next perpetrator has a lawyer. This was expected we jump where the fence is low.
Some of the worst criminals in American history have insisted on representing themselves in court. Often they have been men with a small amount of legal training. This is a red flag.
The man who represents himself in court has a fool for a client.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
Although this is good news that the perpetrator has been handed down the state highest sentencing. My main concern is the children that are affected. They would need alot of pscyhological input, along with their parents. This will help them understand what has happened to them is not their fault. The pschology input would help them express how they feel about themselves and knowing what has happened to them is not their fault but of their abusers.
“They would need alot of pscyhological input, along with their parents.”
Try to tell that to the fool who is talking crap he did not have lawyer!
Lawyers are not God, in Dominica they go into courts conspiring with the presiding judge, and with magistrates, to impose lights sentences, and in many cases let the criminal walk, that is why some of those stupid Dominicans believe that those corrupt lawyers are some sort of gods!
Whether or not this guy paid a lawyer to defend him; what sort of defense a lawyer could manufacture to defend that rapists?
He committed the crime, there is no defense to that; he should be sentence to life without payroll. The reason why the attempted murder of Gong Emanuel, and his wife, will never see the light of day in court, is because of the crooked, and corrupt lawyers in the country who allows such matters to lie dormant. The murder of my nephew and niece will never go to court!
I couldn’t agree more!!! Mind you, the maximum sentence / guidelines is there and it was up to the judges to impose it. I’m delighted with this sentence but also strongly believe that the sentences of a few convicted paedofiles must be reviewed particularly the recent conviction of the man who sexually molested three children in one day!!! Pandit!!!!
You were singing with Mr BLUE PLAY. Ha Ha