Police condemn child sexual abuse

stop sexual abuseThe Dominica Police Force is condemning acts of sexual abuse against young women and minors in Dominica.

Reports shows that in recent times there has been an increase in the number of sexually related incidents on island against young women and boys, particularly those under the age of sixteen (16).

This was also reflected in the cause list for the 2014 September Criminal Assizes which contains a significant number of sexual abuse cases.

Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Assistant Superintendent Claude Weekes, told Dominica News Online (DNO) last week that young women and minors including boys must be protected from those who prey or take advantage of them.

“Our children are being traumatized and destroyed by this people who take advantage of them. They may become nervous wrecks if they are not properly counseled and guided accordingly, and off course the police force along with others we are all responsible to nurture and protect our children, particularly the family institution,” he said.

He urged families not to shirk its their responsibility, “We have to supervise our children, and we have to say no sexually related offenses and the abuse of our children as well as drugs….So we call on parents and families, civil groups, schools the church… and other relevant authorities to come together to sing with one voice from the same hymn sheet to bring the walls of sexual abuse and assault on our children in our country.”

According to Weekes, the police will not sit idle, but continue to go after the perpetrators to ensure that they can be dealt with swiftly in the courts of law adding that it is high time young people are protected.

“Particularly the women who are beating their children and saying that they are not speaking the truth, when they come to say either their father or step father has assaulted them sexually or otherwise and humiliated them and marginalize them…we are indeed condemning and renouncing this kind of behavior.”

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17 Comments

  1. October 7, 2014

    rev Hill, Its unfair to blame gay people, for all ills of society, when most of insest is done by fathers or a relative, the ones closer to you, i am a victim of molestion, i am a 55year old woman, i was victimized by my cousin who grew up with me in the house. at 10 years i spoke to my aunt about the abuse, i was then send to leave with an uncle in another village, you have married men molesting boys and girls, that includes the so called pastors and priests. So pastor pray for our sosiety,and stop blaming a minority group . Please greater punishment, and lets not blame the victim.

    • October 8, 2014

      I was only quoting a stat in a highly accredited magazine.

      Homosexuals are not the only people who molest children. Only about 4% 0f the population is gay but this minority is
      three times as likely to offend. Also they usually have a higher number of victims and a tendency to assault one victim a larger number of times.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.

  2. October 6, 2014

    There are plenty of good people in Dominica who are angry about this increase in sexual child abuse.

    It is a shame that a small minority of sick untreated perverts should run wild bringing scandal and a bad name on a beautiful land with its majority of sincere citizens!

    I agree that there should be mandatory jail time and the deportation of all who do not have a legal right to live there who commit such sick offences. They do not deserve to share the beauty of your glorious island.

    Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.

  3. October 6, 2014

    Mr Weeks there also need to be a registration for convicted child molesters

  4. October 6, 2014

    We hear of acts of sexual abuse against children not being reported even when there is an adult who has full knowledge of the event. Sometimes such an act comes to light years later when the victim is older and gains the courage to report it.

    Every nation should have a law that says anybody knowing of a child being abused must report it immediately to the police. This law should be enforced. Anybody found to have known of a sexual child abuse case and not reporting it should receive a severe penalty.

    Mothers who are aware of a child being abused by their husband or boyfriend, or other family member need to be punished if they do not report he case immediately. This should be reported to the police immediately by whoever becomes aware of it happening.

    I am aware of such cases (not in Dominica) of mothers not reporting the sexual abuse of their children because the offender was the breadwinner or was paying the bills. Theses women should be made to understand that they are literally pimping their children. This is the worst kind of prostitution and should be dealt with accordingly.

    It is interesting to note the increase in the number of underage boys being sexually abused. With homosexuality increasing everywhere due to the idea that it is normal there will be more sexual assaults on boys. In 1992 The Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy stated that homosexual men are three times more likely to engage in paedophilia.

    Thank God the police are promising to move on the problem. However, the promise is not new. What would be
    new would be for some positive action. We need everybody to get involved: Police, parents, educators, health care workers, social workers, foster child case workers, and media, etc. All of these MUST start doing what is they are expected to do within the realm of their responsibility!

    Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.

  5. unknown
    October 6, 2014

    what about the police officers themselves who are sexually abusing girls and young women, and some even their own children? start with the police force mr. weekes and recommend ploicies to change or amend the legislation

    • October 10, 2014

      The people who could make a difference are doing nothing but coming out every year or two year or two and announcing that the problem is getting worse.

      People are still waiting for a law that that makes it mandatory to report sexual child abuse with a jail sentence for not reporting it.

      From people failing to report it, to police not properly investigating it, to judges not being hard enough, to the media not giving proper coverage, … there seems to be a complete meltdown. This is probably the worse crime in the country but you take it more seriously when somebody is caught with a bag of marijuana!

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.

  6. Apple Zebra
    October 6, 2014

    This is long overdue!

  7. commando
    October 6, 2014

    start with de police force

    • Anonymous
      October 6, 2014

      That is exactly what I was thinking. These policemen dropping babies all over the island as they move from station to station.

      • October 10, 2014

        Please tell us how policemen :twisted: are able to get away with this crime.

        You are saying you know 8-O about a policeman raping a child :cry: but yet his superiors did not hear of it or they simply do not care.

        If you have this knowledge go to the newspaper that has the best coverage on the island. Ask to speak to the editor. Give him all you know about the case. Ask him to send the best reporter he has to cover the story. Let him (or her) do some investigative reporting. If the story rings true let them publish it.

        Get these stories out! Put pressure on the police to do what they are paid to do. Children do not usually make up these stories. However, a proper investigation should be able to expose a child who is lying and get the truth out to clear the name of an innocent person who is falsely accused.

        Sexual child abuse cases increase and go unpunished 8) because you let it happen. All it takes for evil to succeed is for good people to do nothing.

        Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.

  8. Gerard Benjamin
    October 6, 2014

    Dear Mister Weekes. We’ve heard this report of increase sexual incidences against young under aged persons before as well as of the mothers who impede the expedition of law and justice because of filthy lucre. Our emotions become momentarily heated over it before rapidly cooling down as it is processed as another passing news item until another ‘report’
    Are you aware Mr Weekes that a UNICEF report on the incest and child sexual abuse rate in Dominica two or three years ago, actually placed us as the leading country in the world with this malaise?
    Could you inform us sir as to when the law in this country will show it is really serious with dealing a crippling blow to this evil by making these mothers actions a criminal act and handing down some stiff jail terms to any of them that are found guilty of frustrating investigations instead of just the usual condemnations?

    • Anonymous
      October 6, 2014

      I personally now this guy who raped a child. We lived in a small village where everybody is somehow related to each other and therefore we had a tendency to “protected” our own. In doing so, we completely ignored the victim.

      The child’s mother of course knew the perpetrators family and she did not want his to go to prison, so she did not report the case to the police. She got no monetary gain by not reporting it.

      Before y’all give me all thumbs down, I was a child at the time of the act.

      • October 8, 2014

        This mother knew the rapist and his family. She received no monetary gain by not reporting it. But she was able to avoid hurt feelings and keep the other family as her friends.

        To her the friendship or good will of this family was worth more than the mental health and wellbeing of the child. The fact that the child may later develop mental health issues, have alcohol or drug problems, or even commit suicide, seems to mean nothing.

        There should be a law making it a crime for her not to report the rape. She should be in jail along with the sick pervert who raped the child. It is time the citizens got a petition in circulation demanding this law go on the books. The whole world is watching this sick drama play out on the national Dominican stage. While those who could make a difference fiddle the country burns.

        Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.

    • October 6, 2014

      To make it a criminal act with jail time for anybody to KNOW of a sexual child abuse case and NOT report it AND to ENFORCE this law would make a difference.

      It is time to hold your politicians accountable by requiring a timeline! You need to know WHEN such laws will be on the books and WHEN they will begin enforcing them. This information should be given to the media who should give it to the public with the promise that they will be following up on each arrest.

      You know what to do but you are not doing it!

      The silent screams of the children whom have been damaged for life and who may themselves become offenders someday are crying out for justice :!:

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.

  9. Cyrique
    October 5, 2014

    This is such an abhorrent act. If these people can do this to children. Then it’s possible that no child is safe with them – not even their own!!! I suspect that the penalties are not tough enough. This sick and pathetic act is not restricted to DOMINICA. It’s a worldwide disease which is not new. Jail sentences should be mandatory and deportation for ALL foreign nationals who violate our children!!!!!

  10. Hmmm
    October 5, 2014

    I like the pic.. But other than that it is the same thing every year and no real action. But it’s always good to talk about it.

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