Police Public Relations Officer Claude Weekes said progress is being made into investigations of child sexual abuse cases, while pleading to parents not to accept “hush money” or bribes from perpetrators in such cases.
His comments came in response to a question during an interview with Dominica News Online about reports that a man was taken into custody for impregnating his teenage daughter.
Weekes did not confirm or deny the allegations but stated: “Well recently we’ve investigated sexual offense cases and in recent times we’ve have made arrests.”
Weekes further stated that the police is not permitted to speak publicly on sexual abuse cases involving minors.
The police spokesman however took the opportunity to urge parents and those affected by such crimes to allow the justice system to take its course, and advised against “hush money” which he said is sometimes given to parents to end court matters against the offenders.
“The police continue to investigate child abuse and child sexual abuse cases and time and time again people are arrested for that. … But what is worrying and profoundly disturbing to not only the police but other agencies working together with the police and the public in general, is that when these reports are made, even when they arrive at court, you find that the parents or adults seem to want to abort those cases,” Weekes stated.
“As we like to say hush money is being given and we’re saying that ought to be a no no. I think you’re damaging this child for life. You’re damaging the child’s career, you’re damaging the child’s relationship, and the whole being of the child is going to be derailed and disorganized. And we have a responsibility to ensure that we can protect our young people, and that’s why the police will continue to work,” he stated.
“The police must be given that chance not only to investigate but continue to prosecute successfully. It’s all about justice; it’s not so much about a conviction…” he said.
Weekes said that it is paramount that these offenders are punished under the law.
“So we are asking the public and those who are affected…allow the case to take its course…. It’s defeating the purpose and we’re allowing these men and women who continue to perpetuate these evil crimes to continue in their crimes,” he stated.
“I would say boldly… parents themselves are exacerbating the criminality of they stop the case, so we’re saying let it go along and let the counseling agencies, the welfare department and the other agencies on island work with the children so that they can pick up the pieces and continue,” he said.
Call it ”snitching”, ”ratting him out”, or ”reporting a crime” it is the same thing. To know of a case of sexual child abuse and not report it is allowing a child abuser to abuse again. There should be a law that requires every person who knows of a child being sexually abused to report it to the police immediately, or be charged with a criminal offence and be sentenced accordingly. If such a law does not exist in your country you have your government to blame for the rapid spread of this – the vilest evil of the 21 century – in Dominica.
A mother who allows a child to be sexually abused because the man pays the household bills, or gives her cash is a pimp. This is child abuse. She is an unfit mother. Her children should be taken from her. They should be placed with a loving responsible couple (under qualified supervision) not in a foster home to be further abused and raped.
Sincerely, Rev. Dr. Donald Hill. International Evangelist. http://www.livinghopeministries.ca
Any sexual abuse of a child should be quickly reported to the police and dealt with in a court of law.
It is not a error in judgment or a social blunder. It is a crime of serious consequence. To accept a payoff (called hush money) from a rapist in exchange for silence is not an option. The pervert must be charged with rape and prosecuted in the courts to understand the seriousness of his behavior and truly want to change. Then somebody must be available to help hjm put his life together.
Single mothers accept hush money from live in boyfriends who molest their daughters. They don’t think of it as “hush money”. They know what is going on but they turn a blind eye and continue to let him live there instead of turning him in because they need money and he is paying the bills.
Married women do the same thing when they know their husbands are abusing daughters. They pretend they don ‘t know or they refuse to believe the girls because their husband is the breadwinner and hey need his money.
They don’t call it “hush money” but what else would you call money that is accepted in exchange for not reporting a man who is raping your daughter? It makes no difference if the money is given to you directly or used to pay the bills.
The Roman Catholic Church has paid out millions of dollars in “hush money” to settle out of court for priests – usually homosexual pedophiles – who have raped little boys or young men. They have paid large sums sums of money to parents and victims later in life to keep their cases out of court in order to prevent another scandal and make it possible for the bishop to simply transfer the priest to another parish. So he moves on and continuous to molest boys.
It is “hush money” even if it is called by another name. It is the money paid for silence. And it is wrong! Wrong because it makes it possible for the offender to avoid a criminal record. It enables him to avoid jail time. And it almost always enables him to continue molesting children. Pedophiles usually become repeat offenders. The worst thing is the condition gets worse. What may begin as simple touching or fondling may progress to include violence, even murder.
You do not help the offender NOR his victims by accepting “hush money”. His only chance of receiving ANY help is to get into the system. He must be charged and face the court. A judge may recommend counseling and place him in therapy.
Some evangelical churches provide strong pastoral counseling. Some have a genuine deliverance ministry. Don’t let ignorance or fear stop you from inquiring about these facilities.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
I get upset when I hear about things like that. there was an instance where a child accepted $10.00 from a man and instead of the mother gave back the money to the man , the mother took the money to go to the shop! After making noise with the child.
Right now the man all of a sudden the man coming in that house whether the mother is there or not. The child also has been missing alot of school for petty reasons. the wealthier is aware of it but as usual is sleeping!
Those parents that accepting the hush money, as far as I’m concerned worse than the person that actually committe the crime. That mean they putting a price on their child innocence. So when they take the money and go shopping, what message that sending to the child, somebody had to rape me or touch me so I could get a new dress or a pair of shoes or food to eat. I really want to know. I would take those parents head and k nock it on a wall, to shake their stupid brain.
I heard of a story that happen in Antigua i think. This man raped his friends daughter. So the day he appeared in court they asked for a surety for bail (hope that’s the right term), low and behold his friend (the victims father) stood up and agreed to pay the bail, people were outraged, how could he do such a thing? The man left (victims father) the other stayed to hear the conditions of the bail and what not. When the magistrate was through with him, he proceded to leave the court room, as soon as he steped outside, cutlass in his tail, the victims father began to harshay (spell check) him. This was a set up so he (victims father) could have a go at him.
I am not suggesting anything so severe thought if it happened would not really give two hoots about nasty rapest. The public needs to know who these freaks are. Their pictures need to be plasted every where so we know who they are.
We need to leak the stories to the public, let everyone know when a man is doing that. Embarrasment might just work, When no one trusts you around thier child, you bound to start feeling embarrassed. Just tell the village gossip when you know of one of those men. We must start taking care of each other. Embarrass those men, put their names out there. Nasty buggers!!!
I am aghast about the payment of hush monies by parents to rapists. Have we lost our dignity and moral compass? After such callous and inhumane behavior, we then wonder why years later, some of our teenage boys and girls have difficulty respecting adults. How could they, when we did not protect them during their most vulnerable years.
How could a parent even think of disrupting such cases. Every parent(s) top priorty should be their children.
It makes me mad just reading/hearing about it. Dominica is a small place and if once these cases come to light and everyone in that community knows, then why isn’t the community shunning these men/women thus sending them the message that their behaviour will not be tolerated. Also how could any right thinking person blame the child.
There should be a sex offenders register in Dominica. If the powers that be feel that they could not keep such a register upto to date, then why not do what the banks and other organisations do when a debt is not paid, print their names in the press, name and shame them.
Finally, if the parent(s) accept money to drop the case, then I can only describe them as PIMPS.
FED UP DOMINICAN:
I am not a Dominican but I love the people of the Caribbean and have conducted gospel crusades on a number of he islands where I have been accepted and treated well.
Every nation has its problems including my own (Canada). I expect most Dominicans agree with you because most of them are good people and are appalled like you are at the immorality (much of it obviously criminal).
This is caused by men and women living in rebellion against God and refusing to commit to the moral code God has given to us in the New Testament. (Romans 1:21-32) (1 Corinthians 6:9,10, and vs. 18)
(Galatians 5:19-21-21)
Fed Up … thank you for your comment. Please continue to speak out.
Sincerely, Rev. Dr. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
I am very sorry but what the law needs to do is obviously amend itself as the people who can amend the laws are unwilling to do so. Our children need to be protected and from where I sit, no one is protecting them. Parents send their children to us at schools and most times we can through observations note an “at risk child”. Sometimes we know for sure and intervene but then the steps that we must take lead us right back to where we started. Some people who are supposed to work in the best interest of the children have no idea as to where to begin. And sometimes the abused girl or boy having suffered so much already is resigned to the fact that what has been , is. These “resigned” children then actually begin to think that it’s okay to be sexually promiscuous and continue willingly to engage in sexual activities.
Somebody has to wake up. Our child are at risk. If it was a joke, it is no longer funny.
If somebody needs to be castrated then by all means, lets start castrating somebody. If there are women predators, in some parts of africa there is such a thing as “clit removal”.
This disgusting behavior must stop. Sexual predators should be made know to the general public. They should be made to visit police stations on a regular basis. Whether first time offender or not these people need to spend some serious time locked up.
well… when female lawyer defend rapists and child molesters and cross examine 4 and 6 year olds for hours on a stretch to the point that the child concludes by saying, ‘ i lied’ or ‘ he didn’t do it’, it’s not even about hush hush money. It’s about greedy people who lose absolutely all scruples when it comes to getting a check. Parents included.
thats some mean shit. to wear down a victim who is not just physically worked out but psychologically messed up. i feel sad here.
Point taken Officer Weekes. Hush Hush money is becoming a major problem for us in Dominica. Drug Dealers are paying out Hush Hush cash to police officers ; Politicians are paying out Hush Hush money as well. The penguin lawyer who is trying to make us think that he is loosing his mind is getting hush hush money to deceive the people of Dominica; Those lawyers in charge of Passport sale getting or taking Hush Hush money. Those Pastors that know the truth getting Hush Hush money to not preach about corruption among government officials;
I am by no means down playing the importance of protecting our children from sexual predators but we must also clean up the filth that exist in higher places. In fact the proliferating acts of bribery in higher places will trickle down to the very little areas of our society.
When I look at the… on the Picard roadway without a designated parking lot common sense tells me that Hush Hush money was paid to get this project approved by the Planning Division. Hush Hush money comes in different format whether it be through the Dollar a year minister.
Hush hush money comes with a price. What we are beginning to experience is a rapid degradation in our society- no regards for law and order, sexual abuse of minors; politicians getting rich while the poor is getting poorer; criminals are walking the streets and are allowed to leave the country even after committing heinous crime – like shooting someone behind the ears; The list goes on and on and those of us who think that it is OK for our political leaders to be just be careful what you wish for.corrupt w
While in my office a call came and said that a 3 years old was being molested by her father and the child gave the story at her preschool, showing the teacher exactly what was being done to her. we investigated the matter and it was true that the father was molesting the child. when contacted the mother she said that she saw the blood stain on the sheet and the child panty but she thought it was mosquito bites.
We then called the police who did investigate the matter and ask us to file a retraining order against the father, which we did.
When we went to court the matter was heard and surprisingly the mother stood up and say that the father is the one paying all her bills, if he goes who will pay the bills. and the magistrate at the time dismissed the case.
Today the molestation still continues in that young child’s life and the mother is now pregnant for the same man who is molesting his and her daughter.
Did this really happen
This man (woman) was actually called to the bar and later appointed to serve as a judge
There must be somebody he (she) is answerable to. Whoever
is responsible for the issuing of licences to practice law and the renewal of such licences can also revoke the licence of a lawyer.
Whoever appointed him (her) to serve as a judge can also revoke that appointment.
Surely there are enough good sensible and brave people who know the facts who would make sure the responsible authorities get the information they need to correct this miscarriage of justice, and THEN follow up to make sure something is done about it
Surely there would be a newspaper with a good crime reporter committed to excellence in journalism at their side 
It looks here like the police did their job. The breakdown was in the courtroom.
I hope something will be done before this scumbag gets his daughter pregnant.
This kind of nastiness only goes on in a nation when the people
allow it to go on. And in that case it only gets worse because it cannot reverse itself.
I can tell you there are places where he (she) would have been off the bench the day after this became known to his (her) superiors.
Obviously the “father” should be imprisoned for a long time. His wife should be dealt with in a similar manner because what she did falls little short of prostituting her daughter to an incestuous relationship.
I know of a similar case here in Canada. The man however was sent to prison for a not-long-enough term. He returned home to rape two of his other daughters and then one of his grand daughters.
This type of thing will continue UNTIL the citizens say “Enough is enough.” I hope it will not continue in this case until somebody takes the law in their own hands.
We don’t approve of this.
But neither do we approve of fathers raping their daughters or any other type of child sexual abuse.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill, D.D.
International Evangelist. Executive Director of Living Hope Ministries.
http://www.livinghopeministries.ca
i must that not much attention is given to these cases, and also too parents are to be put behind bars, all the cases, the parents knows about it and refuse to report it instead u hear them say things like the man paying my marpin/sat bill, he that giving us food and he that puting everything in the house.
I work with children and believe me it is very disturbing when you hear all those sad cases and nothing is being done about it. The court system takes too long so therefore the children become fastrated. another thing too the accused is out there together with the children so they threatened them to keep their mouth shut.
Over the past months on my visit to different schools i have found out that there are over 100 drop out of school in the roseau catchment area including grandbay. There are about 30 pregnant from the ages of 13 up.
This is not good at all, someting need to be done and quickly. I have also found out that there’s alot of incess among families.
DNO this is not a story but it is true. Our children are at risk and it is hidden.
@bunny: u hit sumting dere i always wondering,,,,u see a child of the state belongs to the state as much as the parents,,,well that’s how it is in the u.s.a,,,,so once police on the case no hush money can stop the proceedings cause the prosecution don’t leave the matter in the parents hand,,,,their concern is u have committed a crime or a state crime or a crime against the state comprende,,,,,,so u in dere hands now,,,,,in dominica if the mother say no more the case dead,,,which is nonsense,,,,the evidence is there n should go forward with or without the mother/father,,, u know why??? cause u committed a crime against the laws of the state,,,,,dominica just backward all together still lingering on laws made since 1960,,,,,the judicial fraternity stay like a lame duck
The damn process is much much too long and sickening – only to have the perpetrator sent to jail for 2 years, with a suspended sentence, on vacation where they eat tax payers money, including that of the child’s parents, why the hell not take the “hush” money. The system is what is causing people to take “hush
money. A whole week after you report an incident an arrest cannot be made – when you report the incident, the police telling you it’s not urgent, there’s no one at CID – pure bullshit. No kind of protection for the child’s self image. Everything you have to do has to be done in the public – even when you’re prepared to pay to have examinations etc done privately. That’s the reason why people do not come forward. These animals should be given the maximum sentence, so by the time they are out of prison – they will not even remember how to get “hard” – let alone to look at another child twice for the sick minds to get in gear.
it is so frequent to observe the police officers flirting with 13 and 14 years olds in the communities, calling them to the police station or strolling up to them teasingly requesting a convo. thats a cause for concern aswell if they are their to curb child abuse, sexual, physical, emotional and psychological.
yet again the perpetrators get off so easily and families who condone such acts against their children dont get whats due to them
what happens when the policemen themselves are the perpretrators. Alot of policemen in the higher ranks are the top abuser of their children themselves. Maybe that percentage have declined but in years back, it was very rampant and if anybody tried to get involved, they were victimized severely by them and their peers. Dominica needs a serious cleansing and only God can do it. My God, hasn’t Hurricane David thought us any lesson?
I really dont understand why rape cases are dragged on for ever…the way they do…..It is really hard on the victim and family and most times they are subjected to the views of the public which puts the victim on the stand almost like they are the perpetrators.
I have known of rape cases where the victims are more traumatised about facing the public rather than bringing the offenders to justice.
We understand that the police needs to do their work..but the system is brought to question in these situations.
what i dont understand is why a parent receiving hush money should mean the end of a criminal case. if a thirteen year old is pregnant, a crime has been committed period. that has absolutely nopthing to do with parents.use dna to find out who the father is and then jail his ass. if the parents try to intervene, jail them too.
Parents are responsible for their children. The police are there to protect the law and parents
are there to protect their children. Hush money can NEVER make things better when that child’s life
has been destroy. Taking that hush money is like raping your own child all over again.
When children are been raped the rapist pictures should be posted out side of the police station and out side of the schools so that other children can take proper precaution.
I do not know what Dominica is come to, my 3 year old daughter was rape by a 14 year old boy i did not hush i brought it to you all attention what was the result i got oh he under age there is nothing we could do about that. But if her father had take off his neck i would like to know what would be the outcome. So all them dam police accept Hush Hush fu…k money up to today my daughter who is 5 now is still scared. My daughter always talk her cuz that is on year older that her and say she have to make that boy pay for what he did to her.
president raul castro is the president of cuba but fidel castro is the political leader and leader of the revolution and several time have came out and spoke out as the leader of the revolution so what is the problem with ron be a spokeman
yeah but why do child abuse cases take so long huh,,,,shakes case happen faster than child abuse cases,,,i’m jus using that case as an e.g ok,,,,,now i have an issue with the fact that children are brought to court even after they have given a statement to police during investigation that is wrong,,,no child should be leaving school to attend court n make it worse the public is allowed entry to the court room,,,,,that’s what most children are afraid of,,,,the negativity n embarrassment involved with it,,,,a child should not have to enter the court room if statement have been given,,,, n if so then the public n media should not be allowed entry to the court,,,,we have to protect the feelings n image of an innocent child,,,,b4 we prosecute we must think of the rights of the children,,,,now what bout the counseling given to children,,,,that is a complete joke,,,yah i know of a situation dat why i saying dat,,,,,most times those children recieve no counseling at all,,,,they only go to the station for more n more questions,,,,given a paper of the statement so they can go over to know wat they said so they could,,,,,say it again in the court room,,,i mean lets be real these are children,,,,why would they have to go through all that process,,,,these should be for adults,,,,,,so police peeps,,,,while u in ur office doin ur job the mother n father are at home dealing with a depressed n troubled child and they believe going on with the matter will make it worst or do permanent damage to their child since their children are the first to say they don’t want to go to court in front the damn public,,,,,,that is where the problem is,,,,,these children don’t want the hassle of going to court n why should they,,,,they feel embarrassed and the judicial system seem to make them more victimized than solving their problems,,,,,any parent would go to court but the children don’t want to go to court,,,,,understand that,,,,stop asking the kids to attend court,,,,u r the prosecution,,,the statement is in ur hand,,,,u feel u have enough proof on the defendant go ahead n prove the damn case n leave the children in the classroom,,,,,at least the teachers n classmates won’t have to know that he/she was in court,,,,,,,
@stupesist: You all have this thing about being a snitch that’s just disgusting, its because of attitudes like that many criminals are never caught or convicted. If a crime is committed against me or someone I love, i’d snitch out on every one of you all that assisted. People are afraid to talk so criminals go free, but we crying for death penalty. I have my problems with the judicial system, but this is a part that we are responsible for.
Where there is rape, we should have the men castrated. I will not hold the fact to my ears that my daughter is raped by any man, and that includes her very own father, and only to find out he is sent to jail for a year or two. My Gracious God, I would rather die
Basically he’s saying that when you snitch you should go through with the snitch because you make the police look bad and whats worse is that they can’t “do their job” unless a snitch is involved.