The Child Care and Protection Unit of the human services ministry recently investigated claims of child labour at Mahaica as it continues its campaign to extract children from unsafe and exploitative environments.

A press release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said on Tuesday a team comprising probation and welfare officers from the Unit, a technical officer from the Counter-Trafficking in Persons Unit, education and welfare officers from Region Four, a CID constable and a rank from the Mahaica Police Station investigated complaints about cases of child labour at Mahaica.

The ministry said residents had complained about some children in the area being mistreated and put to work instead of going to school. GINA said no children had been taken into care during the exercise but the team had encountered other instances of child labour during the visit. Probation and Social Services Officer Denise Ralph said the Unit will be pursuing these cases.

According to GINA, a similar exercise was conducted last month along the lower East Coast Demerara following complaints and four children were taken into protective custody. The children were of ages between eight months and 10 years and were discovered alone in a ‘shack’ in a squatting area. In an invited comment on that case Minister Priya Manickchand told GINA that while it was unfortunate that children have to be taken out of their parents’ custody, the ministry is tasked with looking into the children’s best interest.

GINA said since the start of the Mission Child Care programme in 2007, the ministry has intervened in the lives of about 200 children and 100 of them have been put into protective care. When children are taken into care they are situated at the Drop in Centre, whilst investigations are ongoing.  It said too government has been moving aggressively to protect children and has since passed four pieces of legislation in the National Assembly to ensure that children’s rights are protected.