Ministry launches probe at reform school

A troubling report of a young female ward at the Girls Industrial School is making the rounds on social media, triggering a Home Affairs Ministry investigation amid public concerns about the state of children at the reform school.

The incident comes as Government accelerates its plans to update Barbados’ child rights laws.

Declaring the rights of children must be never compromised, Home Affairs Minister Wilfred Abrahams on Monday promised a full investigation into the incident.

A visibly upset Abrahams said: “We need a full investigation into the protocols at the institution and whether the proper protocols were followed in this circumstance.

The child is reportedly naked in a room at the facility.

“What concerns me is the fact that some member of staff or someone had access to, and breached the privacy of that child to take a photograph or a video of a child in a vulnerable situation. That is against the rules of the institution, that’s against the rights of the child, her rights to privacy. No person should have been in a position to take a picture of that child and expose that child to unwanted publicity or even ridicule, far less the institution.

“At the end of the day, we will get to the bottom of this. If any of that child’s rights have been breached, someone will have to answer for it.”

Abrahams acknowledged that all was not well at the Government Industrial School, citing “shortcomings”. He did not elaborate. “We are working hard on those,” was all he would say.

The home affairs minister disclosed that at meetings as recent as last Friday involving his ministry, the Child Care Board, Government Industrial School and UNICEF there was agreement to fast-track child protection legislation.

Abrahams, an attorney-at-law said: “The policy should come before Cabinet very shortly and the legislation should be pushed through in the shortest possible time.

“I am not going to rest until we get to the bottom of this matter. I am not going to rest because this is serious. We are taking this very, very seriously. I am taking this very, very seriously.

“The rights of any person, in particular a child, should never be compromised.

“And I don’t want it under my watch.”
(BT/PR)