Vice-Chairman of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) of Port Kaituma Richard Allen recently told Stabroek News that he has a list of seven teenagers between the ages of 13 and 15 who are either pregnant or have recently given birth. He said while there are reports of others, he acquired the names of those who were still in school at the time of their pregnancies.
Allen said he became concerned after seeing many teenagers pregnant and he approached the ministry’s welfare officer who informed him that there is nothing much he could do if the children did not want to report the matter. “But I don’t understand this; we are leaving our children just to be damaged? There must be something we can do. Can they not even charge the parents? Something has to be done,” Allen told Stabroek News in a recent interview.
However, when contacted Minister Manickchand said while there is no doubt when a child becomes pregnant before the age of 16 it is a case of statutory rape, there is nothing her ministry or the police can do if the child or her parents does not want to report the matter. While counselling can be provided, the minister noted that everything is told in confidence and even if the welfare officer might be tempted to report the matter, she questioned who would stand in the witness box and identify the perpetrator. “It is going to impossible for us to do something because there is no complaint or complainant,” the minister said. She said if the matter is reported to the police without the support of the child or her parents then the police officer would have difficulty in deciding what charges to be laid and against whom. “If people don’t come forward there is nothing we can do,” the minister reiterated.
She recalled that teenage pregnancy was one of the issues raised during her consultation for the ‘Stamp it Out’ document in the Port Kaituma area but none of the persons wanted to come forward and make reports.
Meanwhile, according to Allen, four of the seven teenagers are from Port Kaituma, two from Arakaka and one from Matthews Ridge. He said he is very concerned about the development and while he is aware that it is an issue that is facing many communities in the country he wants something to be done to save the teenage girls from men he described as predators.
The neighbourhood democratic council official also said that there is the worrying issue of children being used in the backdams as prostitutes. He said this is being done with the approval of their parents and no amount of talking to the businessmen who are encouraging such actions has seen them removing these girls from their premises.
While he plans to make a visit to the areas, he is uncertain how much he could achieve if the parents of the children and the business persons are working to ensure that the situation continues.
The official also complained about several children who are now without fathers. These children were fathered by Chinese nationals who worked with a timber company in the area but have since returned to their homeland. And approaches made to the company in an effort to solicit some assistance for the fatherless children have been futile. “I know there is nothing really they can do, but I feel very sorry for the children they don’t have any fathers really,” he said.
