The rising incidents of child abuse was the focus of a symposium put on by the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the Mandeville Regional Hospital at the Golf View Hotel on Monday April 16.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Marks Shields who made a presentation, said child abuse cases are some of the hardest to investigate because there are usually only two witnesses, the abuser and the abused. He said up to one year ago child abuse cases were investigated by the Community Relations arm of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) instead of being treated under the serious crimes portfolio. DPC Shields however said after consultation with his colleagues and the blessings of Commissioner Luscious Thomas, he moved investigations of child abuse and carnal abuse cases to the crime portfolio where he said they "rightly belong".
He said this was important because most of the abusers are young gunmen and shatters who are involved in rape and carnal abuse as well as other crimes. DSCP Shields also said there were six hundred and eighty (680) cases of rape and four hundred and twenty (420) cases of carnal abuse last year. So far he said this year has already seen a twelve percent increase over last year's figures. He also lamented that the poor condition of the facilities to deal with the victims within the JCF, a need now in the process of being upgraded.
Chief Executive Officer of the Mandeville Hospital Miss Paulette Elliot told the audience that sixty-nine children between the ages of twelve to sixteen years old showed up at the hospital in a state of pregnancy. She indicated there was a higher figure for children seventeen years and older.
Pediatrician, Dr. Jacqueline Dunkley-Thompson who presented a graphic display of some of the serious cases of child abuse that the medical profession had to deal with across the world called for more serious penalties for offenders. She showed cases where some of the abused children died as a result of the abuse they suffered. Admitting that some parents aid in the abuse of their children for economic gain as well due to the dominance of the abuser she said that it is time that society see it as its responsibility to protect our children.
Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Kent Pantry who also addressed the gathering said that the laws are somewhat confusing and need clarity via proper legislation. He pointed out that an example is where the law provides for a penalty of life in prison for a person convicted of raping a woman that same offense against a child draws a maximum of ten years. He said parents who fail to make their children available to the court during the trial of the offenders hamper the conviction rate of those charged with abusing children. This he attributes to a number of reasons, including fear of reprisal, pay off by offenders and not wanting to expose the child to public embarrassment.
Despite the difficulties, DPP Pantry encouraged the public not to sit idle by while their children are being abused. He said the public has a responsibility to report sexual and other offenses against our children.
Others addressing the gathering included Dr. Judith Mowatt of the National Forensic Laboratory, Dr. S. Leslie, Emergency Room Officer at the Mandeville Regional Hospital, Miss Jennifer Hutchinson, Director of the Victim Support Unit (Manchester branch) in the Ministry of Justice and Dr. L. Lord, Obstetrician.
