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Child Protection Agency still investigating NOC scandal

Jun 01, 2014 News

Head of the Child Protection Agency, Ann Greene, said yesterday that her agency is still conducting interviews with four teenage girls from the New Opportunity Corps as the investigation continues. The four girls have alleged that they were sexually assaulted by caregivers at the NOC.
Greene told Kaieteur News that they are expected to return to court on Monday. The Child Protection Agency had initially gone to the courts to have the girls removed from the NOC, to begin their investigations last month.
Some of the parents, when contacted yesterday, said that they were pleased with some of the action taken thus far by the CPA. One parent told Kaieteur News that she hopes that the court does not send her daughter back to the NOC.
The woman said she prefers that her daughter gets the professional help which is being offered by the CPA.
On Wednesday, even though Culture Minister Dr. Frank Anthony had emphatically stated that the NOC is not a “closed institution” A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) Member of Parliament Christopher Jones was denied access to visit the facility.
Jones told Kaieteur News that he had made an oral request to the Culture Minister several days ago to visit the NOC. He explained that he was informed by the Minister that he should make a written request, which was done.
Tuesday last, Jones said he received a response from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alfred King, outlining that his request was denied.
“The Ministry recognizes your continued interest in the NOC, but we cannot accede to your request at this time, but rather to a date in the near future”, the letter stated.
According to Jones this denial raises grave concern since the Minister, the Permanent Secretary and caregivers had categorically stated at a recent press conference that there’s nothing to hide. “What is restricting a Member of Parliament from visiting the institution,” Jones questioned.
Because of the denied request, Jones opined that it is clear that the Ministry has something to hide at the NOC. Jones insisted that the matter will not rest and that they intend to have Parliament intervene.
Within the last three weeks several allegations have surfaced from the NOC about caregivers committing sex acts on teenagers. Parents have come forward and told harrowing stories about sexual abuse.
Jones had told Kaieteur News that his Party was in the process of preparing a dossier which would be sent to various international organizations.
Opposition Leader, Brig. David Granger, had said that his Party had no confidence in the capability of the Ministry of Culture, to administer the New Opportunity Corps.
Granger had proposed that the responsibility of the Corps be transferred to another Ministry or agency that possesses the requisite personnel and skills and is better prepared to tend to the lives of juveniles sympathetically.
Last week Jones made a call to Government to have the caregivers at the New Opportunity Corps undergo lie detector tests.

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