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Minister Volda Lawrence’s unbecoming conduct

Mar 24, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
Recent media reports about a protest organized by Red Thread sounded a clear call for the government to take disciplinary action against Minister of Social Protection (MSP) Volda Lawrence.
Other NGOs; Help and Shelter, the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association, ChildLink Inc. and Forward Guyana supported this protest.
We share in Red Thread’s outrage over this incident and reiterate that it is unacceptable that the Minister respond to repeated allegations of child abuse by saying, as Minister Lawrence did, “this is a family issue that has been going on and on and on and on for whatever reason, I can’t tell you, because if I had a brother, even if there was an accusation, this is not how I would go about helping him.”
In the first place the Minister should know that no incidence of child abuse is a “family issue”. As her own Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency repeatedly tells us, the protection of children is everyone’s business. This being so, it is the MSP that must take the lead and ensure that all allegations are thoroughly investigated and all victims receive services. In addition, the Ministry’s role is to provide services and support for victims and non-offending family members, not to help perpetrators to take public office.
The Minister should also be aware of the seriousness of the repeated allegations against Mr. Harding since the CPA has been directly involved with the children who have allegedly been victimized. What remains unclear is the reason that despite the Ministry’s knowledge of the allegations, the issue has been allowed to “go on and on and on and on” as the Minister stated.
At best the Minister is unaware of the role her Ministry is required to play with respect to the protection of children, at worst, she has turned a blind eye to allegations against a member of her party. Either way the government must deal with this issue swiftly and decisively.
Omattie Madray, ChildLink Inc.
Chantalle Haynes, Forward Gu

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