Dear Editor,
There seems to be an ongoing abuse of minors by a gang of young men in Pou-deroyen village, West Bank Demerara.
During the middle of March 2010, two of my boy children were sexually molested by a young 15-year-old boy. My children were 6 and 9 years old when the incident happened and on Friday, March 19, I made a report to the Vreed-en-hoop Police Station to a CID officer (name supplied).
The following day I took the children, first to the police station, and then accompanied by an officer (name provided) to the West Demerara Hospital where they were admitted and kept until March 25, when they were released.
However on Saturday 20th, the day of admission, I was told that I had to get two medical forms from the police who told me that they would take them to the hospital on Monday 22nd. While visiting my children on the Monday, I was informed that no doctor had examined the children as yet and that no medical forms had arrived from the police. I was also informed that this was a case for the social workers, but unfortunately none would be available until Thursday 25th.
On Tuesday 23rd, I was given two medical forms by a police officer (name given), with instructions to call him before any examination by a doctor was done. Back at the hospital I was told that no examination could be done until a social worker was present and that wouldn’t be until the Thursday.
Thursday 25th, I went to the hospital and met with Social Worker Mr Crandon, who then made arrangements for the children to be examined by a doctor. This was done in the presence of the police officer and myself. The policeman then left the hospital taking the medical forms with him. My children were released from the hospital later that day by social worker Mr Robert Singh.
Friday 26th I took the children to the police station where they each gave a statement to a policewoman (name provided) who said that the perpetrator would be arrested that same day. He was subsequently arrested on Saturday, March 27.
Tuesday 30th, I returned to the station along with the two children and my daughter and nephew, who were the ones to bring the molestation to my attention. My daughter and nephew both gave statements to the female police officer, who then brought the perpetrator and his parents into the same room where they listened to the allegations made by my children. The officer then advised me that the case would be forwarded to the office of the DPP for further advice.
Since then I have made repeated visits to the police who have said that the file has not been returned from the DPP’s office, which when contacted said that the file had been returned to the police for more information. So far after numerous attempts to find out what is happening, I feel that I am being deliberately stonewalled and frustrated as no information is forthcoming.
The word around the village is that nothing will come of the matter as the perpetrator’s family has paid off certain police officers. I am hoping that this is not true as I would like the perpetrator to be brought to justice. In the meantime, within the village, there are other reports that the perpetrator and his friends are still going around committing more of these despicable acts on other unsuspecting children. This boy has since slapped my 11-year-old son.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to Commissioner of Police Henry Greene for any comment he might wish to make.
