The Child Care and Protec-tion Agency (CCPA) has launched an investigation into reports that a Port Kaituma resident, accused of raping an 11-year-old girl, is once again living in the same home with the girl and her younger sister.
When contacted yesterday, Director of the CCPA Anne Greene told Stabroek News that her department saw the report about the matter in this newspaper and has since contacted the Probation Officer in Port Kaituma – there is no child care officer in that area – and asked that an investigation be launched.
Greene said that the man, Vibert Henry, should not be living in the same home with the victim but she did not indicate what action her department would take should it be verified that the man is indeed living in the same home.
She said that initially they were told that some of the reports “may not be accurate” but she has asked that an investigation be launched and is awaiting the report.
“The man is right there I just see he and I see the girls too and nobody ent come and visit or ask the neighbours anything yesterday or today,” a resident living close to the Canal Bank, Port Kaituma area said yesterday.
The resident pointed out that they were very instrumental in getting the alleged abuse reported and it is sad that after the man was arrested and charged and even apologised to the court for his deeds he is now allowed to live in the same home with the child. “Is really sad because she [the relative of the girls who share a relationship with Henry] does hardly deh home and is he alone does deh with the girls and dem other children, sometimes dem bathing together,” the resident said.
The resident recalled that last year the man was only charged after they had brought the matter to the attention of this newspaper and a story was published. The man was arrested and placed on bail and was back in the home with the children. Pressure was even being placed on the family by an official of the Community Development Council (CDC) of the area to forgive the man because they were all Christians.
Last year March, Henry, a 30-year-old fisherman of Moruca appeared before then Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson on a charge of having carnal knowledge of an 11-year-old girl. He was not required to plead and was then remanded to prison. However, the matter was later transferred to the Matthew’s Ridge Magis-trate’s Court and the man was later granted bail.
Henry, who was unrepresented, had stated, “Ah real sorry foh wah ah do to them two lil girls,” and added that he was wrong. At the time, Prosecutor Stephen Telford informed the magistrate that another charge of a similar nature involving a six-year-old girl was expected to be laid against Henry. It is not clear if the man was subsequently charged with raping the younger child, who is the sister of the 11-year-old.
The children’s mother is dead and their father lives some miles away from them but does not take care of them.
They were living with their father’s parents after Henry was charged and their residence had temporarily moved to Georgetown but since Henry was released on bail the relative has returned to the area and Henry and their children along with the two sisters are now back in the home.
The residents expressed the desire that the girls would be removed from the area or Henry be asked to leave the home.
Last week, the residents had said that they had brought the issue to the attention of the Probation Officer who initially doubted that the man was in the area. However, two Saturdays ago the police were taken to the home and the man was arrested but released hours later as the police indicated that they had no arrest warrant for him and they were not even in possession of the case jacket for the court case.
