High Court Judge Justice Errol Thomas has described sexual abuse as a growing epidemic which infringe on the basic rights of children.
He made that statement at the close of the 2015 January criminal assizes at the High Court in Roseau earlier this week.
According to Thomas, it is no longer “life as usual for your children and children on a whole.”
“For your own sake and the sake of Dominica you have to be vigilant, regardless,” he said.
According to him quite often the culprits of sexual abuse are people the children know.
He further stated that there are predators out there looking for children.
“Gone are the days when you could send the child down the road by himself or herself to run an errand, on the other side or on the corner,” he said. “There are predators looking since they want them young. And please remember the younger the child is, the more innocent and vulnerable they are and likely to be…”
He stated tht parents should be on the look out for gifts being received by their children, especially cell phones for teenagers.
He said, also, even when the cell phones are given to teachers by parents, the times and frequency of calls should be monitored.
Meantime Justice Thomas urged Dominicans to generate a national debate on the issue of child abuse because the statistics stand out when the population is small.
“The welfare department must be applauded for their efforts to highlight the matter of the abuse of children aired on television which points directly at abuse,” he noted. “But let me say immediately to you that child abuse is everywhere, not just Dominica but when you have a small population the statistics stand out…”
When all is said and done, More action and less talking is needed to help to combat this vile, evil, degrading behaviour by the men is our community.
This comment is directed to THE FACTS:
I totally agree with you regarding the Premiere of Ontario.
My wife and I did not vote for her. We will not vote for her and we will not vote for her party nor any member of it.
No doubt some ”Christians” voted for her. (a) Some of them are plain stupid and do not learn all they can about the candidate before the election. (b) Some will vote for a candidate because they see a certain benefit (or benefits) for themselves if that party gets in. These voters have wrong priorities. Morals and values mean nothing to them. They are self centered and materialistic.
The worst thing about this woman being in office is how her new sex education course brings the province down. This course was put together by a lesbian AND a man who is a convicted sex criminal (child pornography.) It is literally being forced upon the schools.
Romans 1:21-32.
It is difficult to imagine anything worse.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International…
This lesbian premiere of Ontario is ”married” to another woman.
She was once married to a man and is a mother. Yet we have people saying homosexuals are born that way.
I have read reviews of the new sex education course which she created by the help of a male professor who has since been convicted of child pornography. It covers such things as premarital sex, homosexuality, oral sex, anal sex, and much more. The main thesis running through the course is that these things are all normal for those who feel so inclined, and they must not be discriminated against.
Even now students are being taught how to come out of the closet.
This shows what can happen in any nation that decriminalizes homosexuality and legalizes same sex marriage. It is also an example of what can happen when homosexuals are elected to political positions.
They are elected by homosexuals voters and you can be sure they come to the office with an agenda.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill…
There has been much talking and writing on the part of some authorities. Once and for all, it is high time that such a Law be enacted. This would definitely deter this type of action toward especially the children.
Parents should be educated accordingly to report abuse of their children.
If these authorities keep talking about it and nothing is done, it will be a waste of their time and that of others who respond to these articles. Therefore, without much ado, commence lobbying the government to enact such a law which is dire needed and for the protection and sanity of those who will be affected by sexual abuse.
”Something needs to be done quick and swift.”
Nothing is BEING done in many cases. PERIOD.
Abuse is not being reported.
Police are not charging abusers.
Judges are not hearing cases.
Appropriate sentences are not being handed down.
Every few months we read a news article on DNO that sexual child abuse is increasing each month or every year. The reports keep coming. Nothing changes. Various well meaning people and groups vent their rage. Government departments issue their news releases. Non government organizations (NGO) speak out.
But nothing is going to change until people get mad as #%@@ and decide they are not taking it any more.
There must be a law that makes it mandatory for people knowing of a case of sexual child abuse to report it to the police AND this law must be enforced with appropriate penalties for non compliance.
The media must see that people are held accountable.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
Too many predators, liars and thieves on this island and they need to be dealt with by removing them from society where they can’t carry on their maliciousness.
sex is promoted in our daily lives…… when young people see this things on television, books, socials media n among others on a daily bases, what u do expect? Age doesnt define maturity. This teenagers know exactly what they are doing.
Magazines, books, television, and the internet are continually presenting young people with sexual images that influence their behavior.
Human beings are wired (created) in such a way that seeing sexual images affect us. This is not always a bad thing. But good images at the wrong time can be very harmful.
Rich black soil in your garden is a blessing. But dump it on the floors of your home and it is dirt.
The government should monitor and be able to control what is seen in magazines, on television, and on the internet. Most of the filth is produced in other countries. But surely the government can control what gets past customs and crosses your borders. Television and the internet are more difficult to control;
but technology is available. I am not convinced our governments are doing all they can do.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
We can’t leave everything up to Government to sort out, as parents it is our responsibility to protect our children, if we do not spend the time talking to our children and informing them on what is right/wrong, and how to protect themselves we cant sit there and blame others, also child sexual abuse has be epidemic in a community for a long time, the only difference now is that it is being spoken about,, children were not believed when they try to speak about someone in the community abusing them, and for those who did they were told not to say things like that about the adult, the adult was always believe aver the child. It was Fathers, step fathers, brothers, uncles, grandfathers nephews, cousins, neighbours, Teachers, Ministers, Priest, Preachers, Doctors, etc, children and young people has been abused all over our community for ages there is nothing new in that, Affirmative action is needed to protect those children form these vile beast., stop talking, talking,
such a shame…its not getting better because the biggest abuser are those in positions of power…they abuse the power our children. Also child Sex abuser imprisoned in other countries, on Child Protection registers in other countries and deported back to Dominica after serving their time are not kept an eye on – they are back on the Island to continue abusing our children….Our leaders are EVIL
The difference between now and hen is that is is being highlighted, children kept silent when it was happening to them, they were called liars and told not to say things like that about a adult, the adult was always believed over the child, especially those in position of power like you said Clever, and most of child abuse start in the home.. They need to start educating children from a very young age, There should be a sex Offenders register, people deported rom abroad after serving prison sentence for child sex abuse should be put on it also., am a firm believer in naming and shaming them.. Social Services/Child Protection should be taking campaign out into the community/schools etc…. Mothers especially need to be more careful when they bring men into their homes, find out something about them, forget about the money they or the food they put on the table, your child is the prize, a lot of them target women with children, but the woman is not their interest, Child is..
What is even more upsetting about this child abuse situation , is the fathers and step fathers who sexually abuse their own daughters. Also sad is when some of the mothers know about it but are afraid to report it due to the potential break up of the family or loss of the bread-winner.
Roseau, you are sooooooo right, most of it starts in the home and personally, any woman who sit there knowing their child is being abused by their pig of a partners should be in jail and the child taken away.
I listened to a Radio phone in where a woman partner was sleeping with her 14 year old child and she wont tell because if he goes where is she going to get money and food when they take him away, also her daughter need sexual experience so it’s better if she gets it from him,, what happens if that child gets pregnant,? In other words that woman is prostituting her poor child, messing up that child, physical, health, her mental and emotional development.. rather than going to find a job, I don’t care if it’s cleaning the street.. And how can she lay with that man knowing he just came out of her 14 years old child bed?
It’s all done to home training,this has to be dealt with from the home,be mothers and fathers put the children first for they are the future.Get A father for your children. misserable parents
I wonder how many children will be given a death sentence (AIDS) by men who will walk away free or only lightly punished.
The work performance of some judges should be reviewed.
Honestly, I wonder how some of them ever got called to the bar. I have sat in courts and asked myself how they even got to be lawyers. The right to appeal is (in my opinion) terribly abused. But it is incompetent judges that make it necessary.
Every sexual offence that goes to court should be heard in a courtroom with a good reporter present. The trial should be covered by the paper. The victim’s name should not be published. But if the offender is convicted the public should be given his name. The sentence should also be made public.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
Rev Hill, People do not realise how powerful their voice can be they need to educate themselves and use their voices to demand better from the cowboy Judges who really need to go back to training, by naming the victim is victimising them all over again, the perpetrators is the one’s information that should be made public which will also help other women out there to be very careful of this person.
Aids will put them out of the misery inflected on them, but, there other illness/diseases out there they have to live with for the rest of their lives, which also affect them having children etc. and I wonder what sort of counselling the children gets to help them understand what has happened to them. and what rehabilitation those offenders get to make them understand what they did to those poor children. just putting them in jail is not good enough.. A lot of those desperate women who put the man before their children, need to be educated..
Men who know they have tested positive for HIV and have unprotected sex should be charged with attempted murder even if their partner tests negative. If convicted their names should be published. Other victims should be encouraged to come forward for testing so they can get into treatment if found positive.
If these people (men or women) spread the disease after finding they are positive they should receive the same sentence anybody else would receive for attempted murder.
A few years ago the media carried the news of a gay airlines steward who tested positive for HIV and continued to have unprotected sex until he infected over 200 more men across the USA.
Others who have had sexual contact with them should be encouraged to come forward for testing to begin treatment if necessary.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
Sexual abuse will continue in Dominica due to the low morals that have invaded our society. Too many parents set no example for their children. They beg men for things instead of work hard and their children do the same. That Red Clinic did not help. I know of persons who stop working and depended on that. What signal are you sending to your young girls in particular. Where have the virtues of hard work gone? Parents and mothers in particular also have to pay more attention to who their children associate with and where they go. You must know wher your child is at all times. Some parents are just too naive and irresponsible. The revealing clothes that some grown ups wear is also a shame. When mothers dress in that way how can you tell their girls not to do the same.
I maintain that the home and parents are the most important determinants of the state of our children and society. Unless we address that and ‘call a spade a spade” immorality will flourish.
My View:
Thank you for your common sense.
We need a return to morality to reach the core of this problem.
The moral code for sexual behaviour God gave us in the New Testament shows sex outside marriage is a sin the Bible calls ”fornication”. It includes every type of illicit sexual relationship. This is found in Romans 1:28-32, 1 Corinthians 6:9,10, and vs.18, Galatians 5:19-21, Jude vs.7.
God’s moral code should be taught by parents in the homes, by pastors and Sunday school teachers in the churches, by teachers, guidance counselors, and nurses in the schools. It should be the heart and core of every sex education course in schools that teach sex education. It must be honored. It is the Word of God!
The governments of our nations must realize they themselves are under it and are subject to it. Any laws they pass touching on sexuality must reflect God’s moral code and promote adherence to it.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill, D.D., International Evangelist.
We need to inform the woman Premiere of Ontario about morals and principles. She is a mother, grandmother and a confirmed lesbian.
You must have heard/read, in September she will be implementing a new form of sex education and about homosexuality in the Ontario schools. She, as the provincial government premiere, sad to state, will certainly never promote morals and principles.
The majority of politicians approved same sex marriage. Once government legislated this type of lifestyle, know that Canada (or any other country) has gone down the drain in this respect.
Many Christians voted for her. They were blind to her lifestyle. I did not vote for her political party. This meant, I did not vote for the Liberal MPP in the riding I reside in. A vote for this MPP would have been a vote for this woman.
These people who live this intrinsic lifestyle have their agenda, once elected. Knowing this, it is for this reason I did not vote for her Party.
This situation is world wide, Not just Dominica and it is happening in all walks of life… Yes they nee to stop that begging and be more independent, be more protective towards their children,.. set rules/standards in their homes.. What a person wears in not an invitation for someone to use in order to abuse/rape… The women are the ones who has to put things in place to protect their children.
Dominica has no laws . The bastards that are suppose to be protecting our kids abuse them,start with the ministers police teachers,bus drivers etc,yet the judges turn a blind eye,Dominica is doomed.
You say ministers, police, teachers, and bus drivers abuse children.
If you know of even one such case you yourself should report it. Do not simply report it and walk away. Stay with it until you know the police have interviewed the parties and laid a charge if it is warranted.
You say judges are turning a blind eye. You don’t have to accept this. Find out the DATE the case goes to court and the TIME it will be heard. You be there – not alone – but with a reporter from your best newspaper. First talk to the editor. Ask him to assign his best investigative reporter to cover the trial.
Every nation needs a law that requires anybody knowing of an incident of sexual child abuse taking place to report it immediately to the police. It must be a law with teeth that carries a penalty for non-compliance. If the nation does not have such a law nobody should wonder why cases are not being reported.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
I can see that you don’t live in DA. Most of the reports given to police see no action. Therefore, it is virtually a waste of time.
You are correct but we can do something about it by using our voices and demanding changes in the law. the Board of education does not even have a code of conduct to prevent the teachers from abusing the children. they turn them out to prey on the poor developing young girls/boys. and because the children are thought to respect certain people in position the children do not say anything. And when some of the bastards get caught they are sent to another Village where they are not known to continue their nasty, evil practice.
Parents must stop covering it up and must stop taking hush money or making arrangements. The children are scared for life. Please protect and defend them!
”Parents must stop covering it up…”
Not only parents but guardians and others in positions of trust must stop covering it up.
There are mothers who cover up for their husbands – the biological fathers of their children – because they are the breadwinners of the family.
There are mothers who cover up for their boyfriends because they are receiving gifts and money from them. In some cases the boyfriend is a live-in and is paying the household bills.
Children are also abused in the homes of grandparents and in the homes of uncles and aunts. These cases are often not reported for other than financial reasons. Those who should report them realize they are already in a difficult situation and are afraid of making it even worse because they have no place else to put the child.
There should be a law that requires every person knowing of child abuse taking place to report it to the police immediately.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
Even in the US, 80% of young girls in particular, are molested by age 8. The culprits are usually a family member or someone who is close to the family that the child is familiar with. Men usually groom and chose their victims carefully.
Preventing child abuse is the business of every adult in Dominica. It’s not a law enforcement or government issue. It’s a community issue. When children are being sexually abused, governmental authorities are not present. However, it is their responsibility to ensure that these abusers are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
I totally agree with everything you have said, 90% of child abuse starts in the home as I have said before by a relative, and close neighbours..
When the authorities find a child is being abused is the home and there is no alternative to move the child, then remove the abuser from the home, I don’t care where he/she has to go, the authority should take situation out of the parents/guardians hand. the priority is the Child No one else..
This is not about what the Law does to punish because this may not necessarily bring the figures down.
Perhaps more about dealing with the mindset of desire and discussing it more openly around the damage it causes throughout the society and the impact on the development of the family unit, not only today but also in the future.
I agree with a lot of what you say, the community need to be educated about the devastating impact this has on the children’s development stop hiding things and talking about it in secret, take affirmative action to tackle this disgusting behaviour.. But I also think they should be named and shamed, publish their names warn the community of this person,. and any parent/guardian who covers it up should be jailed.
Justice Thomas I take the point made but when the same Justice system gives these “predators” a slap on the wrist for these crimes what do we expect?
Sexual abuse has been going on a long time but now children are being told by their parents do not let anyone touch their private and children are talking And Parents and even teachers are listening.. The people you trust to leave your children with can be the worst Abusers… KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN Parents
It stays with your child for life…
We are overlooking some very real dangers.
(1) An adult who is taking an undue interest in a child.
(2) Allowing children to have “sleep overs”. This is when they stay over night at a friend’s place. What are the sleeping arrangements? Who else is in the home over night?
(3) Going on picnics or camping with somebody or people the parents do not know well enough to actually trust.
(4) Staying after school for additional tutoring or worse still going to a teachers home for extra “help” with a subject. It can be very helpful. But I have known of cases that were a disaster. This needs to be monitored.
(5) Insufficient supervising of foster children. Case workers should have the pulse of each case under their care. Many foster parents are good people who love children. It is not my intention to arouse suspicion.
But again I am aware of some problems in foster homes that were not caught in time. You would not want to hear the stories.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill…
This is just what is reported or discovered. I guarantee you that many many more children are suffering in silence! How dare these people deprive our children of their childhood and their innocence! The Government and the Justice Ministry must ensure that sentences reflect the crime by imposing very harsh sentences and public humiliation. In addition to their penal sentences These perpetrators should clean the streets and public toilets in strickingly bright prison uniforms and ankle chains so that the public can see their devious faces! Their names and photograph should also be published on public notice board. They must feel the humiliation and fear felt by their victims! There must also be a childline for children to call & teachers should be a safe confidant. Constant Government adverts on TV encouraging reporting. These boowos & pandits must be caught and dealt with now!!!!! (Some are lurking in the family) Children must be allowed to grow up as kids and enjoy their childhood!!
We are living in a sick society. Anyone who would abuse the innocence of a child is unfit to be around children in my opinion.
Parents must maintain vigilance at all times with their young children. Educate them about their bodies and the areas that should be of limits to others. Furthermore, when abused children make allegations, we should not dismiss them without first thoroughly investigating the child’s claim.
Many people who were abused in childhood have gone public later in life. They said the reason they did not report it earlier is because they were afraid they would not be believed. A significant number of these cases involved priests. It other cases the abuser was the biological father.
It is proper to listen to the child’s allegation and act upon the assumption that it is true. Show kindness to the child and listen carefully. Understand that it is difficult for a child to report a case of sexual abuse.
Do not let the child get the sense that you do not believe the story. It should be taken seriously and reported immediately. The police are trained to interview the alleged victims and make the decisions.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
That’s where the government needs to put their mouth and money from every angle shape and form. This is just so sickening what’s gonna happen to our lil children of tomorrow if we don’t protect them today?
UNICEF reports have stated the extent of the damage done and the ongoing threats posed by “…the widespread acceptance of sexual violence as a normal feature of life”, and “…the link between child sexual abuse and the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. The early onset of sexual activity has been identified as a contributory factor to the spread of HIV infections in the Caribbean, where 42.8% of sexually active Caribbean children had their first sexual intercourse before the age of 10. By ages of 16- 18, approximately 29.8% had more than 5 sexual partners, many being forced sexual encounters.” (See Prevention and Management of Child Sexual Abuse in the Caribbean: Progress Report 2012, available at: http://www.unicef.org/easterncaribbean/ECAO_Sexual_Violence_Against_Children_in_the_Caribbean.pdf
The perpetrators must be charged and face the full brunt of the law, and not be protected while their victims endure life-changing traumas, including failing in school.
The ages at which children are becoming sexually active are of great concern. Also the ages at which children are having various sexual experiences are alarming.
The worst part is some of these things should NEVER happen to people of ANY age.
However the ages highlight what I have been saying for several years. We must begin earlier to reach the children. We are not talking here about young people. We are talking about children and very young children at that.
Parents need to be admonished about their responsibility to be an example to their children when it comes to pre-marital sex and the virtues of abstinence even if it requires some form of government intervention.
There needs to be an all out effort to lovingly teach the children God’s moral code from the New Testament using language they can understand at the earliest possible age. It must be taught in the homes, schools, and churches.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
child abuse is fully accompanied by internet ponography,.
Internet pornography feeds prostitution, rape, incest, and other sexual evils.
It is one of the greatest tools the devil has at his disposal in this 21 century. Yet the internet is so practical and we use it for so many good things.
I have no documentation for this but I have heard that Islamic nations are blocking Christian websites from getting into their countries. If they can keep the gospel out our governments should be able to keep
the sexual perversion and filth out here at home. This is something child and women’s advocacy organizations should be looking into.
There are tools you can use to block certain websites from being received by your computer if you do not want your children viewing them. Parents also need to know what their children are watching on the internet. For a young person to have a computer is a privilege not a right. Parents who love their children will monitor the kid’s time in front of the screen.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International…
This is not only a matter of Law and police but also a matter of a ‘sick’ society with constant deminishing morals. It makes me sick!!!!
Thank you very much. I signed on this morning to make exactly the comment you have made. Since it is already there I will just endorse what you have said. Parenting is the problem. Child bearing has become a fashion and people go about having children that they are unable and unprepared to properly rear and this is the effect. The powers that be need to come in with programs to deal with this issue.
”The powers which be need to come in with programs… … …”
Raising a child is the most important thing we will ever do in life. It is also the one thing most of us had absolutely no preparation for the first time around.
In some places parenting courses are provided for Moms and Dads to be. I expect they are sponsored by the Department of Health, and done at the local hospital, in co-operation with local physicians, the Association of Nurses, and social workers.
Theses courses should be provided free of charge because those needing this help the most are often those least able to pay. In light of the fallout that is incurred by inexperienced and incompetent (sometimes deeply troubled) parents the government should realize this might be the best investment they could ever make for the good of the nation.
In a parenting course this whole matter of sexual child abuse could be covered.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
Exactly
Sexual child abuse is one part of the larger picture. It may be the most serious and sickest part of the picture.
However, the big picture includes every departure in sexual behavior from the inspired blue print God has given us for human sexuality that is found within the covers of the New Testament. (Matthew 19:4-6)
(1 Corinthians 6:9,10, and vs.18) etc.
When there is a deterioration of morality at the core of society there is a breakdown that affects people in very walk of like and in very age group.
Any lasting change that will affect the sexual abuse of children must include a return to traditional morality and family values. This will only happen when people are willing to accept the fact that God DOES have a right to tell us how to live. He has revealed His will in His Word. When we bow to Him and accept His authority over us He will heal our land!
Our nations (yours and mine) need a spiritual awaking.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill…
Each time I hear about this problem ,it gets worse and wht is alarmin is how everybody is sooo quiet on an issue like that.Where are the churches, social groups,organizations for women/children.Where are they? Silence speaks louder than they think if u ask me, it would mean that they all are guilty as hell.I can’t unstand how real men, not those jokes that all around breedin this and runnin around nasty frm behind not sayin anything?where have all the real men of dominica gne, where are those christians? Tell to stand up , raise up against these wicked nogood set of people
The law needs to be changed so that the punishment is stiffer and when there is evidence or witness, the case is taken over by the police and welfare division and the parents don’t have a say to discontinue the case
I think that they should start castrating these men who have no respect for these children. It was OK for that G/Will man some years ago, that trend should continue. This would surely curb this crime.They should send a warning to those would be perpetrators . God help our nation
A number of suggestions should be considered.
1) Making sure each sexual child abuse trial is attended by a newspaper reporter on assignment!
2) The names of those convicted along with their pictures should be published.
3) People convicted of a crime against children should be registered where the public can search for and find their names. This would assist potential employers.
4) More attention should be paid to those who apply for jobs working with or around children. Pedophiles have been known to travel great distances even internationally to get such a job. Some have been arrested again and again in different parts of the world.
5) Parents should be taught how to recognize signs of sexual abuse, and how to talk with the possible victim.
6) Every school should have one trustworthy person trained and designated that a child KNOWS he or she can talk to privately if they have a problem with anybody.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
Castration is considered harsh and the ultimate punishment. It would certainly render a male rapist incapable of reoffending.
I suggest we study the use of less radical means first. But it is judicial negligence that gives birth to vigilante justice. Unfortunately this sometimes happens when people do not think the police and the judges are doing their jobs.
There MUST be suitable laws.
Those laws MUST be enforced.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
The woman minister solution to this is to ask God how can I learn from this victimisation! What are the positives that I can learn from my abuse!
Yes, there are things you can learn from any sexual abuse that happened to you.
You may benefit from seeing a counselor. He or she would help you ask yourself the right questions. Ultimately the answers must come from within yourself.
This would be the beginning of your recovery not the end. The offender must be made to face justice and also should receive counseling or therapy. This is to lessen the chances of him or her offending again.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
Yes, this is so true. Gone are the days of the innocent kids. Something needs to be done, quick and swift.