CPA engages E’bo taxi and minibus operators on child sexual abuse

Sep 28, 2018 News

“Some of the Taxi drivers and bus operators who were a part of the engagement on last Tuesday.”

The Child Care and Protection Agency [CPA] collaborated with Blossom Inc. last Tuesday in engaging the hire car drivers and minibus operators on the Anna Regina Car Park, Essequibo Coast on the seriousness of sexual offenses.
The engagement last Tuesday is part of a series of activities slated for Child Protection W eek, which is being observed under the theme, “Supporting families to prevent child abuse through education and community involvement.”
The CPA’s partner in this engagement, Blossom Inc. offers guidance and counselling for children and adults who have been abused, or would have gone through some sort of traumatic experience.
The team last Tuesday included Ms. Bibi Shakoor and Michael Amsterdam from the Blossom Inc. and Miss Renata Ifill from the Ministry of Social Protection. As part of supporting families to prevent child abuse, the team believes that taxi drivers and bus operators have a pivotal role in preventing child sexual abuse.
Troubling reports, however, indicate that most of the sexual offences are committed while a child travels to and from school. The perpetrators in these cases, they say, are taxi and minibus operators.
Ms. Bibi Shakoor who is also a counsellor at Blossom Inc. added, “Most of the girls being sexually abused are teenagers and most of the abuse come from hire car drivers, bus drivers and conductors. The nation’s children travel every day with you and they are your responsibility when they leave home.”
Miss Amsterdam from Blossom Inc. explained that in some instances, teenagers may tend to bus ride instead of attending school. Such a situation, she noted could easily result in a child being sexually abused. Drivers being the responsible adults were urged to take control in such situations and to desist from the practice.
In Guyana, the consent age is 16, nevertheless the CPA explained that a child still remains a child up to age 18, since neither she nor he can make his or her own decision independently. It was then noted that each member of the public transportation system should be aware of the sexual offences and their consequences.
The engagement concluded with the CPA highlighting some of the sexual offences. These include touch a child sex, forcing a child to listen to sexually explicit music, conversation or programmes, encouraging a child to engage in sexual acts for gifts or money.

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News