Vice President of the United Workers Party (UWP), Francisca Joseph, has emphasized the need for a family court in Dominica. Joseph who was speaking during the recently held ‘Workers Voice’ Program on Q- 95 Radio made the call against the background of reported cases of child sexual abuse in Dominica.
“We have been speaking for a number of years about a family court, a place where people’s cases can be heard,” she said. “We have children who have been abused and taken advantage of and in 10 years the case cannot be called and these children continually remember and nothing is done for me.”
Joseph continued, “We are asking this and other things.”
This she said includes a place for juveniles.
Joseph argued that there are many houses being built around the City, however, there is no place for battered men and women.
“What about our young people? Some of them the crime that they commit may not warrant that they go to the state prison, but there is somewhere you can put them and they can learn a skill,” she stated.
“We have so many houses we are seeing being built around the City and women don’t have a place.”
On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, the Government of Dominica introduced and approved a new Act in Parliament to provide greater protection for victims of domestic violence and for the granting of protection orders to promote their safety.
The ‘Domestic Violence Act’ was among five other Bills relating to the family.
The Bills include The Status of Children, Maintenance of Children, Maintenance of Spouses and Parents and Children Care and Protection.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said the Cabinet approved a new structure for the social services department for the more effective and efficient administration of welfare matters relating to the care of children, women, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups.
He said further that the Welfare Division will operate within this new structure with an increased staff component.
The newly structured department will also provide support for family laws which will go before Parliament on Tuesday to ensure they are properly implemented and monitored for effectiveness.
He mentioned also that a subunit of the Criminal Investigations Unit of the police force will be created to focus solely on reports of child abuse and domestic violence in Dominica.
“…and those officers will be provided with proper training so that we are more responsive to those calls for investigations and ensure that investigations are successful and resources are placed for investigations,” Prime Minister Skerrit said.
You will be the first to stand trial there! Good thing. Search your conscience. Rubbish!
We need a sex offender registry as well. so many child molesters are allowed to walk among us and often take the chance to molest other children. This needs to stop.
Very well stated. Respect!