Since the launch of the Child Advocacy Centre (CAC) in Port Kaituma, Region One just over three years ago, Blossom Inc, the non-governmental organisation that runs the centre, has conducted over 200 forensic interviews with child victims of sexual abuse, according to its Founder and Managing Director Ayo Dalgety-Dean.
“While Blossom Inc has been doing everything we can, the challenges we face are immense,” said Dalgety-Dean. “Our work in Port Kaituma extends beyond the CAC. We actively collaborate with the police to conduct outreach programmes aimed at preventing child sexual abuse and gender-based violence, reaching communities such as Big Creek. However, significant challenges persist, including the remoteness of the region, harmful social norms, and limited infrastructure. These barriers increase operational costs and limit access to vulnerable families in harder-to-reach areas.”
One of the critical issues identified by local advocates was the absence of a resident Child Protection Agency (CPA) Officer. Dalgety-Dean raised the same issue: “Since the absence of a resident CPA Officer, Blossom Inc has observed a steep decline in reported cases, highlighting the vital importance of having such a resource embedded within the community.”
That role was previously filled by a dedicated officer, and is crucial for facilitating the reporting and follow-up of abuse cases. It is believed that the resignation of the former CPA Officer has left the community without a clear point of contact, thus children and families are struggling to access the support they need.
“To mitigate these challenges, Blossom Inc has implemented mobile child advocacy and care services, ensuring that even the most isolated communities can access essential child protection services,” Dalgety-Dean said. Yet, the lack of government infrastructure continues to limit their ability to respond to the growing needs in the region.
Stabroek News reached out to the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, but had received no response up to press time.
Further, neither the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development nor the Neighbourhood Demo-cratic Council (NDC) seemed to care. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Local Government said, “… This is an issue that falls largely under the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.” And from the office of the NDC Chairman came a statement which said, “This issue doesn’t fall under our purview. I’ve passed the duty of the comment along to another department to address ‘in their own time.’”
Meanwhile, as this newspaper reported last Monday, vulnerable children and families in the area are struggling in the face of rising abuse, sexual violence, and mental health crises. Stephanie Miguel, a long-time resident and child welfare advocate had stated that there were more than 20 reported cases of child sexual abuse and suicide attempts in recent months.
“These kids come to me because they have nowhere else to turn,” Miguel had said. “When they report abuse to the police or try to speak to adults, they’re met with indifference or no follow-through. These children feel like no one cares.
“There’s no follow-up on police reports, no social services, no mental health care. The children are suffering, and no one is doing anything about it,” she said.
The absence of essential child protection services in Port Kaituma is not just an administrative failure—it is putting lives at risk. Advocates are calling for immediate action, including the restoration of a resident CPA Officer, the establishment of a safe house for abused children, and the provision of mental health services for young people in crisis.
