Dear Editor,
I write in response to an article in the Stabroek News dated 15th February with the caption ‘Bare Root poison patients discharged from GPHC.’ In the last paragraph it is said that “the woman had previously attempted to end her life and the Childcare and Protection Agency had intervened in the matter on that occasion.”
I wish to inform you that I have been advised by my officers that this information is not accurate. The Stabroek News on a number of occasions has made statements and publicized information involving the agency and its officers that were not factual or not properly investigated. This results in your readers not gaining an accurate understanding of the policy and workings of the agency which is detrimental to work of the agency and to the children of Guyana.
Child protection is everyone’s business; everyone has the responsibility for the protection of children. To achieve success depends on heightened awareness of the populace to child abuse issues and the engagement of communities for involvement in the processes of child protection. This is challenging for the agency, but we are pressing on, for the survival of Guyana’s children depends on the involvement of every member of society in the process of child protection. Consequently, when inaccurate information is given to the public this serves to undermine the hard work of the agency, and we would like to believe that is not the intention of your organization.
This year, we are endeavouring to increase our collaboration efforts and would like to engage in more of a partnership on child protection with your organization. This means that we build a relationship that you can easily crosscheck facts in stories involving children and families before they are aired. This will go a long way in the protection of our children and your contribution to the noble cause of child protection.
Yours faithfully,
Ann Greene
Director of Children Services
Head of the Child Care & Protection Agency
Editor’s note
We apologise for the error.