Last year 489 children were moved from abusive situations, according to Finance Minister Ashni Singh.
In his budget presentation he said “Government continues to place significant emphasis on protecting and empowering vulnerable children countrywide. To this end, two additional pieces of legislation geared towards improving child protection were passed, the Child Care and Development Services Act 2011 and the Custody, Access, Guardianship and Maintenance Act 2011. Mr. Speaker, a new secretariat for the Child Care and Protection Agency has been commissioned in 2011. A total of 489 children have been removed from abusive situations and placed in safe homes. Additionally, the national foster care programme placed 55 children in foster homes. Mr. Speaker, the Sophia Care Centre was commissioned in 2011, with capacity to accommodate 100 children and aims to provide holistic care to our young children including specialised counselling, music, dancing, art and craft.”
