‘Kwame’ needs to be disciplined in every regard

Sep 29, 2009 News

If contents of recording true – says Childcare and Protection Agency

In a strongly-worded statement, the Childcare and Protection Agency, yesterday, broke its silence on the Kwame-Julius sex tape, saying the adult in question, Kwame, needs to be disciplined in every regard if the contents of the recording is true.

In the statement, the Childcare and Protection Agency registered its “deep concern at recent events which have placed some of our children at risk.”

The Kwame-Julius tape surfaced over a week ago in which an adult, purported to be a senior government functionary attached to the Office of the President, is heard soliciting sex from a 15-year-old who is identified on the tape as Julius.

The Childcare and Protection Agency falls under the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.

The Agency said that it has heard the recording between two persons, purportedly an adult and a child and is of the view that “the contents of the recording are serious and warrant thorough investigation with a view to determining the veracity of said contents.”

“The agency is of the view that if the contents of the recording are true, then the adult in question needs to be disciplined in every regard,” the Agency stated.

Also, the agency said it was deeply concerned about the wellbeing and welfare of the alleged child involved.

“We are very worried at the national exposure of this child and are troubled by the ramifications of this repeated exposure and the psychological impact that this may have on this child,” the Agency stated.

The Agency is calling on anyone with knowledge of the boy’s whereabouts to immediately contact them at 227-4420, “so that we may be able to urgently address all of his needs.”

“We want to do an assessment then formulate a care plan, for him as is done with every child in difficult circumstances,” an official, who chose anonymity, told Kaieteur News.

The female official said the agency has been addressing this issue “for some time and decided on the statement because we need to contact him but we don’t know where to start.”

She also stated that “if somebody can give us his particular address we’d be grateful.”

The officials also said that given that the boy’s mother is reportedly from Linden “we’ve notified the Linden office and we are waiting to see how best we can get onto the child.”

Meanwhile, the Agency has said it was also deeply concerned about the usage of children in protests and the publication of a picture in the newspapers where these children could be easily identified.

The Agency said these children are being taught intolerance and hatred. This is reprehensible.

The Agency said that it will do its best to protect the rights of parents to protest and even assist in promoting those rights.

“The Agency further believes strongly in the right of children to express themselves, vocalise their concerns and to be taken seriously by adults, but the agency absolutely denounces the exploitation of children in any activity which could bring or cause them harm.”

The Agency said that children should be allowed to be children and should not be drawn into adult activities where vulgarity, abuse and violence or a violent atmosphere prevail.

The Agency is urging the Guyana Police Force to act decisively against adults whenever children are being used and exploited in activities where they may come into harm’s way.

We urge all persons, community members, political parties, activists and members of the media to refrain from using and exploiting children to achieve any end.

“Guyana has not before encouraged exploitation of our children, whether by individuals or in an organised manner, and all of us must guard against descending into this murky abyss.”