The growing child abuse crisis in Dominica is the result of
cultural and systemic obstacles that make identification and prosecution of
abuse near impossible. Currently, there are more than 1,000 child abuses cases sitting at
the Director of Public Prosecution’s office dating back more than 10
years. The victims of these cases may
never obtain justice, as the evidence, witnesses, and alleged abusers may no
longer be available by the time the case is brought to court, if ever.
But this is a known fact by the government of Dominica, and
despite numerous calls from all sectors of society, the resounding message from
the Roosevelt Skerrit administration has been a painful shrug: We simply do not
care about the nation’s children.
Consider what happens when a child abuse case isn’t swiftly
prosecuted. The abusers remain under cover in the families, communities,
schools, and other institutions where they may continue to prey on young
children. Young victims may be forced to continue to interact or encounter
their abusers, fearing retaliation. But perhaps even worse than this, the
victims of abuse are taught a life-changing lesson that will affect the future
of this young country – that the people elected to office, appointed to
implement and uphold the law, simply do not care about their pain, the
injustice inflicted upon them, and the impact this incident will have on their
lives. How, then, can we expect to develop a strong country, a proud and
thriving nation, when more than 1,000 children and their families were sent the
powerful message that the country simply does not care about their safety and
well-being?
Below is a testimony from one parent who went through the
rigors and frustration of Dominica’s legal system in an attempt to obtain
justice for her child. She continues to
wait while the court drags its feet, fails to follow through on its own
procedures, and teaches yet another family the pain and sacrifice now required
to call oneself a citizen of Dominica.
Occurrences during the campaigns for the upcoming Soufriere
by-election, underscore the Roosevelt Skerrit government’s lack of concern for
the children of Dominica. Though cabinet minister Ian Pinard embarrassingly
resigned from both his cabinet post and as a member of parliament for alleged
abuse of a minor, his party’s candidate
Denise Charles– and sole female candidate in this election – has yet to make
her position on child abuse clear. Her opponent Hidges Adams and the United Workers
Party have made numerous calls for Charles to signal her willingness to change
the landscape in Dominica for abused children. Instead, she sat silently while
members of her party promised their continued support for the alleged-child
abuser, going as far as calling him a hero. Yet, her inaction and silence on
the topic is palpable and painfully clear:
as a potential-law maker she will stand by her “mentor,” the
alleged-child abuser, despite the fact that child abuse has reached monumental
proportions in Dominica. There will be no kind words, no gesture of support, or
promise of better days for the alleged-victim and the thousands of other child
victims throughout Dominica.
As parliamentary members of
the majority Dominica Labour Party refuse to stand in defense of
children, the ball is now in the court of the Attorney General, Levi Peter, and
Director of Public Prosecution, Evelina Baptiste. Will they now demand the
resources necessary to clear the backlog of child abuse cases and demand a
family court to ensure justice is delivered for the children of Dominica? Or
will they reiterate the years-old message to Dominica’s children: The
government of Dominica simply does not care about you.
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