Welfare Division asks for assistance in child abuse fight

The Welfare Division has called on members of the public to assist the department in identifying victims of child abuse in the society.

This as officials confirm that the child abuse situation in Dominica is a serious one.

Addressing a crime and violence forum in Pointe Michel on Monday night, Chief Welfare Officer Martin Anthony said there should be greater collaboration and partnerships at the community and state level in responding to these horrendous crimes against the nation’s children.

“We have been calling on the public continuously to join hands with us in continuing to report on what they see happening around the island,” he said.

The Welfare Division over the years has been working in the interest of the most vulnerable groups such as abused and neglected children and has been offering remedial services to victims.

The Chief Welfare Officer said the situation in Dominica should not be ignored.  “When one thinks of children as young as two and five years being violated this is an affront to humanity and the dignity of a human being,” he lamented.

Anthony says his department will continue to be a strong advocate against the abuse of children in Dominica.

“We continue to detest the action of persons who wantonly and for reasons unexplained who take advantage of children. Children are vulnerable, children need to be protected and we all have a part to play in the protection of children,” he argued..

The Welfare Official warns about perpetrators of child abuse within the society who continue to take advantage of children.

”We continue to say that there are perpetrators out there which we must be guarded against. Those perpetrators and there are many, some of whom have not come to the fore or some of whom against reports have not been made, but they are out there as vultures taking advantage of children,” he said.

Anthony assured members of the public wanting to provide information to the department about children being abused, that the information is always confidential.

“Many times we tell people who call the department you don’t even need to mention any name to us as to who is the caller, just give us the information and we will go out to try to authenticate the report you are making,” Martin assured.

The Welfare Division which falls under the Ministry of Social Services, Community Development and Gender Affairs exists primarily to safeguard people against human degradation emanating from poverty, old age, mental and physical disability, acts of God, and other forms of misfortune.

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29 Comments

  1. Be Nice
    September 2, 2012

    I believe in correcting children and guiding them to grow as respectful, responsible adults. “Spare the rod and spoil the child” This does not mean to abuse the child. It means that if you allow the child to grow wild as a weed or like a tree in the wind, bending wherever he or she likes, then if you get a crooked tree, don’t blame anyone. If you did not go astray, it is because your parents corrected and guided and disciplined and loved you. We need lots of training in this area

    We need to protect the children better. We also need to rehabilitate the offenders.

  2. SusanMae
    August 29, 2012

    “The Welfare Official warns about perpetrators of child abuse within the society who continue to take advantage of children.”

    But what can the members of the public do to help? I don’t think that they can help with anything. Knowing the end result is that the perpetrators are back on the streets to continue their bad habits, it does not encourage anyone to want to help.

    First things first, there needs to be changes made to those antiquated laws to protect the children and persecute those perpetrators. If we the public know that these men will be given severe punishment then the public will help. But this thing is a big joke…. When the law changes, then the public will be more inclined to assist. uncle raping their nieces, fathers having sex with their daughters, and all they get is a slap on their wrist.

    The responsibility is not on the public, the responsibility lies with the the law, the court and do like America let the world know who they are.

  3. speaking logic
    August 29, 2012

    I think the welfare division has special constables working with them…at least i hope so….this touches my heart so much….and maybe some more money should be generated in this department…a SQUAD of police should be setup for this…as i said arrest toute moun that doing this to these children and women abuse 2…enforce the laws and come down hard on them…

  4. Anonymous
    August 29, 2012

    Mr. Anthony good morning to your good office.

    I would like to know what measures are in place to protect our children from convicted child molesters. Towards the end of last year, this man from Possie ()was charged with molesting his neice. I am not sure if he is on bail pending further hearing or the exact details but I know that the matter went to the Courts.

    However, every single morning I am taking my daughter to school, this man is sitting in his vehicle. He is usually there from about 7:15 until at least 8am. Now this street is highly trafficked by school children, and a pre-school and primary school are just a few feet away. The victim also lives a few feet away.

    Everytime I see this man, I think that he is just sitting there ‘feasting’ on these little girls go to school.

    Shouldn’t there be a law banning such persons from areas with children?

    It really disturbs me to see him there every morning.

  5. hmmm
    August 29, 2012

    I also agree that it should never be that the parents/victims refuse to testify and the case goes away. Never! Men giving families money not to press charges. SMH. And don’t let me get started on those women who prostitute their kids because they don’t want to lose the man. Shameful!
    There should also be a national list of these people. Published. And anytime they move to a new community the people in that community should be notified. And they should automatically be banned from any kind of employment that deals with children. We have to do more to protect our kids.

  6. strength
    August 28, 2012

    we have to punish our kids it is just the way we do it, Look at the American society these children are so rude and badly brought up. Their parents cant even speak to them else they call the cops. Is this what we want in our land. Let us be careful what we ask for.

    Discipline or abuse? Please define.

  7. speaking logic
    August 28, 2012

    The perpetrator and the mother or guardian has to be arrested and charged…put down your foot Welfare, and I hope persons get more involved 2..have a hotline line number and publish it and constantly ask persons to call..even the abused ones should be able to call that number..24 hrs service….

  8. Neighbour
    August 28, 2012

    Welfare does nothing with the information given them. For almost a year now a young boy who is mentally challenged has been locked in a cage at the back of a house at 50 Potters Street, Pottersville. Reports have been made several times to the Welfare Division, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Community Development, Child Fund, Dominica Association of Disabled Peoples, the Home for the Homeless and even the police have been called in numerous times when this child is crying out at all hours of the night. It seems that no one cares.

    This young boy is kept in a concrete cage with one metal gate. He is not clothed and is not provided with so much as a sheet to help keep him warm. This is where he eats, sleeps, excretes and is hosed down.

    As of late this child has been screaming almost non-stop throughout the night and day as the weather has become more rainy and colder as the hurricane season is upon us. Not even as Tropical Storm Isaac passed was he allowed out.

    If the welfare division wants to stamp out child abuse in Dominica, I personally believe that this is a good place to start.

    • SusanMae
      August 29, 2012

      why cant you help out your neighbor.. we are our neighbors keeper. If the welfare is not doing something, why can’t you do something within your capacity to help. Would you prefer to see the situation as is, or try to help the child.

      If I know of a neighbor in such condition, i know that i would help. what sayeth you?

      • Neighbour
        August 30, 2012

        The neighbours are doing what they can do legally. That is, reporting the situation to the relevant authorities and trying to reason and speak with the people in chage of this child. What would you have us do, break in the person’s house and let the boy loose on the road? That would be irresponsible, not to mention illegal.

  9. nature Girl
    August 28, 2012

    Shanice Jermott was held in captivity for 40 days and nights. Her case has come to court on several occasions only to be adjourned!! What on earth is the Welfare Division doing for Shanice who is now 16 and was abducted and sexually abused when she was 14 years old! This is ridiculous and damaging to this country! The Welfare Division should be helping this teenager!! Clean up this situation first it is a disgrace!

  10. Citizen
    August 28, 2012

    Less talk and more action from the welfare department. Everyday is the same story ‘help from the public’… What happens after the reports are made is very important otherwise people will feel they are wasting their time! The current system sits on things too much and don’t do proper investigations or maybe never even followup!

    Having had first hand experience of such a situation I can safely say the current welfare system is very unreliable!

    More needs to be done! We are talking about the lives of innocent children here.
    Laws need;
    1- compulsory imprisonment of any parent or family member who tries to hide or doesn’t report a case of child abuse
    2 – Create an offenders list – make public the names of every offender.

    Not only would this deter cover-ups ( after a few good examples are made)It would also deter offenders and more cases would be taken to court.

  11. tiny
    August 28, 2012

    all I’m saying is that if i had access to a gun as a child ……stop beating kids…please pass laws to ban beating of kids…..corporal punishment should be banned or it should be given to everyone…parents and all

  12. RR
    August 28, 2012

    Your children will always be yours protect your children parents!!!!!!!!!!!

  13. JD
    August 28, 2012

    I think the mothers who cover their men should be brought to justice as well. Shame on them for believing the men over their children.

  14. Anonymous
    August 28, 2012

    Mr Anthony what happens when we report and according to the Laws of the Land, no charges can be laid against the perpetrator unless the victim or parent testifies? Makes no sense.

    Case in point: there is a situation right in Possie all now and the guy has never even been questioned because neither the child (who spent some time in Chances) nor the mom testified against him. According to the mom, he is the one helping her and so she is not selling him out.

    The guy has so many pics on his facebook page with the same little girl like is his wife. and yet nothing came out of it. Guess the cycle will just continue as he moves from one sister to the next.

    We need the laws changed. Any crime against a minor should be a crime against the state and therefore there is not need for the parent or victim to testify once there is proof.

    • Young
      August 28, 2012

      you’re right, the outdated laws need to be changed, but at the same time, we can’t convict without proof. laws were made before fb and all that technology, so they need to be modified; but if we press for it, the parliament will have to do something

      • Anonymous
        August 29, 2012

        Well I can assure you that there was much more than proof, including medical records. This was not hear say. But again, the laws, the laws, the laws.

  15. Anonymous
    August 28, 2012

    Interesting, because i know the Divisions receives alot of information. The question is what do they do with it? Sit on it, write report after report and nothing is done. Wake up Welfare Officers and use the information given to you to bring relief to the hurting children of this country in the quickest possible time. Thank you.

    • Peeping Tom
      August 28, 2012

      «Information» that cannot be corroborated is not information, but «beff», gossip. The courts do not deal with gossip.

  16. tiny
    August 28, 2012

    kids being threatened and bullied by their parents……parents are the number one bullies

    • loveable
      August 28, 2012

      not all

  17. tiny
    August 28, 2012

    and who are the vulnerable kids? the kids of prostitutes? and drug addicts?…..well most of the kids i know who have been sexually abused were sexually ab used by policeman, church goers…people of good standing in the public’s eyes….
    and physical abuse…I’ve seen all the kids in my neighborhood being physically abused growing up

    • tiny
      August 28, 2012

      people getting slapped in the face because their parents think they took too much time to go to the grocery and back..kids being beaten with leather belts and whips for whatever reasons…..and at the end of it ask why society is so messed up

  18. tiny
    August 28, 2012

    first of all please define..child abuse…because most Dominicans abuse their children and they call it discipline

    • Brain DAMAGE
      August 28, 2012

      Tiny, are you from England or the USA?
      Behave yourself . Not most Dominicans.

  19. Jay
    August 28, 2012

    Don’t go to the public, go to Parliament so that the laws pertaining to child abuse will change. Make it so that since there is proof, the victim or victim’s family does not need to testify. Too many women accepting money from men and its the young children paying for it with thier innocence, mental stability, self worth and character.
    It makes no sense even when neighbours talk and because mommy was paid off these monsters go free. I want to see when the police will stop the one that always Guada.

    • Reader
      August 28, 2012

      If you have information, on behalf of the hurting and exploited child(ren), please contact the Welfare Division. We thank you!

      • (.) (.)
        August 28, 2012

        And, what are they going to do about it? Sit on it like always then come bla blaing later?

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