By Kisean Joseph
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Social workers have been threatened and chased, and have had to change vehicles at night, as they work to protect abused children from parents trying to regain custody.
The troubling picture emerged at Antigua and Barbuda’s first National Child Protection Town Hall, hosted by the Ministry of Social and Urban Transformation. Officials revealed that 287 child abuse cases have been recorded so far this year.
Director of Family and Social Services Feona Charles-Richards described the lengths to which her officers have gone to protect children from parents determined to regain custody after they have been removed from their care.
“The foster parents were threatened. They brought the child back to the office, and the parents were outside waiting, because they were hoping that the child would be returned,” Charles-Richards said. “The child was returned, and we had to change four vehicles that night to find a safe haven for that child, so that they could not trace where he was.”
Minister of Social and Urban Transformation Rawdon Turner said the strain on his staff had reached crisis point, with counsellors themselves now seeking counselling.
“My director here sitting on my right and her counsellors, they’re tired, they’re exhausted, they’re beaten. They too are now reaching out and asking for counselling,” Turner said. “When you’re at the point where the counsellors are asking for counselling, I think you have a crisis. And I say without fear that we are experiencing a crisis in Antigua and Barbuda.”
Assistant Commissioner of Police Lisborn Michael, who heads the Criminal Investigation Department, told the gathering that officers who fail members of the public would be held accountable.
“I am here to deliver one thing, a professional service to the public,” Michael said. “If you are not satisfied with the services provided by any officer, you have all the right to voice your concern. We are your servant. You are paying us to do one thing, and it’s to do a professional service.”
The assistant commissioner urged members of the public with complaints about individual officers to come forward, and provided a contact number for his office.
“If there are any breaches where any police officers are violating their duties, my number is 464-5599,” he said. “Give me a call, and appropriate action will be taken against them.”
The town hall drew government officials, psychologists, social workers, law enforcement representatives, educators and healthcare professionals, as well as members of the public who shared personal accounts of abuse and the systemic failures that followed.
The ministry said the meeting was the first in a series of town halls to be held in communities in the coming weeks, with the aim of reaching residents on a more local, village-by-village basis.
Social workers threatened amid 287 child abuse cases
