Something is not right at the Childcare & Protection Agency

Mar 01, 2026 Letters

Dear Editor,

The tragedies of the 14 and 15-year-old mothers are causing me anguish. I would really like to know what was the response of Childcare & Protection Agency in these cases. The age of consent for sexual activity is sixteen years, so any fifteen-year-old or 14-year-old delivering a baby the medical officers are bound by the Child Protection Laws to report the matter to the Agency, who must intervene for the protection of the children and babies and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Protection involves the children being taken into safe places with the babies for care while the cases are being investigated, and if adult perpetrators are involved, they must be charged for statutory rape. In care, both mother and baby would be cared for by the state and continuation of school would have been a must.

There is something not right at the Childcare & Protection Agency in terms of leadership and execution of roles. There are reports that individuals are placed in high positions with not an ounce of training and understanding of their roles, responsibilities and Child Protection laws. This is displeasing to many of the staff, who seem to be just going through the motions. This is sad and it seems to be a common trend in the Department of Ministry of Human Services. Serious intervention is needed at this stage to save Childcare & Protection Agency and the Probation & Social Services and all the other professional departments, who are crying out for informed and effective leadership.

Minister is the Executive Political Head of the Ministry, Permanent Secretary is the administrative head, but not the professional heads of the Departments. These must be certified as well as qualified specialists in the professional areas to fill the top positions, since they are expected to give informed professional guidance and answers to the Executive Head and Permanent Secretary in the delivery of Human Services and Social Work in the ministry.

There is a great need now to save the two main Departments of the Ministry: Probation & Social Services and Childcare & Protection Agency, these are key agencies for service and protection of children, young people and seniors.

Yours sincerely,

Ann Greene

Retired Chief Probation & Welfare Officer & Former Director of Childcare & Protection Agency

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Ann Greene, Child Protection Laws, Childcare, Letters, Protection Agency

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