Dear Editor,
On July 3, last following an allegation of child abuse, my 15-year-old daughter along with my 14-year-old son, were taken from me by a child protection officer. I was told that they would be placed with a close relative of mine. I was told to sign a document, but I did not do so, promising to review the matter the following day. The child protection officer said that she cannot wait, and would take the children and give them over to their paternal grandmother.
I asked whether the grandmother could supervise the children and take care of them; there was no answer. She told me I cannot maintain them. As I was about to leave, she said the children have to get clothing. I told her I would be leaving to go to the Corentyne and that I do not know when I would return. However, I left with the understanding that they would have visited my home the following day to collect the clothes.
However, later the following day, I visited the Probation and Welfare office at Princess Elizabeth Street, in New Amsterdam, and I spoke to a child welfare officer in the presence of a probation officer. Questions were raised about the suitability of the home in which the children were placed, and whether I was comfortable with the placement. I indicated that I had refused to sign the document placing my children in the care of their paternal grandmother, owing to ongoing issues between us, including a court matter.
The child protection officer, then asked where I wanted them to stay. I identified an aunt in law. She then asked that the children remain the said night and the following night at the paternal grandmother, as she was travelling to Georgetown. However, I became ill and had to be rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital, where I was treated on Saturday, July 6. I was again treated on Monday, July 8.
However, on Monday 8, July , at about 14:00 hrs, I was lying in a chair in my living room, when a male plain clothes policeman who was accompanying my under-age teenage daughter, came to my home, saying that they had come for clothes. Initially, I did not give them the clothing, as I questioned why the male officer had to come with my teenage daughter to my home. He said the welfare officers were on the road and that they could not come in as the pathway was bad. I responded by saying, “Just as how she would use long boots to come to me, she can do the same, as she lives in the area.”
My teenage daughter then came into the house without saying good afternoon, and I said it cannot happen like this. The police officer then left, and after about fifteen minutes, he returned with two child protection officers, one of whom stated that she had come for the clothing, which I later allowed a relative to give to her. The officer told me that she had not been able to get in touch with the relative whom I had suggested that the children stay with temporarily, and promised to get in touch with me when she did.
Since then, I was informed by the way, that my children are at various locations, and I was not being informed of their movements.
Can someone tell me what the role of a child protection officer is? Is it to divide a home or cause children to lose respect for parents? Can a mother see her teenage child becoming a promiscuous wanderer and do nothing about it? Is this matter really and truly thoroughly investigated? Can somebody tell me where my children are? I need answers.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to Ms Ann Greene, the Director of the Child Care Protection Agency for any comment she might wish to make.
