Cabinet has agreed to the appointment of an Inter-Agency Task Force to devise a workplan for the implementation of the recommendations coming out of the Report of the Cabinet-Appointed Team, which conducted an Independent Investigation into the Abuse of Children at Children’s Homes.
This was revealed by Minister with responsibility for Gender and Child Affairs, Ayanna Webster-Roy.
Minister Webster-Roy noted while the Task Force is undertaking its work, critical action will continue toward the implementation of some of the recommendations, which are already in train by various Ministries.
She pointed out that an estimated one hundred and twenty-six million, eighty-one thousand, seven hundred and fifteen dollars ($126,081,715.00) is available to undertake and expedite the various projects.
Minister Webster-Roy’s statement of the matter reads in full:
On April 29, 2022, in keeping with this Government’s thrust toward accountability and transparency in its operations, I laid the findings of the Report of the Cabinet-Appointed Team, which conducted an Independent Investigation into the Abuse of Children at Children’s Homes, Rehabilitation Centres and other Institutions which provide Residential Care for Children. As Minister with responsibility for Gender and Child Affairs and indeed, as a mother, I am heartbroken that abuses were reported in facilities vested with the charge to care and protect the nation’s children. I remain resolute in my quest to ensure that this matter is addressed with urgency.
At the heart of the Division’s work and the ethos of the National Child Policy is to ensure that all children regardless of station and life position are “…happy, healthy and confident and their rights are respected, protected and promoted to facilitate their holistic development towards achieving their fullest potential as constructive members of society, now and in the future.”
To ensure that our children are safeguarded and we combat child abuse in child facilities, some of the following recommendations were advanced:
- the urgent organisational redesign of the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago to improve service delivery;
- the ongoing development of clear and measurable standards for all persons interacting with children in executing the National Child Protection Strategy;
- the standardization of critical reports among Community Residences;
- the maintenance of Caregiver to child ratio at Community Residences and Child Support Centres;
- the training of Security personnel in treating with children in Residential Care; and
- the establishment of a Children’s Commissioner
Having reviewed the Report, Cabinet agreed to the appointment of an Inter-Agency Task Force to devise a workplan for the implementation of the recommendations.
This Task Force is scheduled to hold its inaugural meeting on May 04, 2022 to commence the development of the work plan, with a timeframe of six (6) weeks from the date of commencement of meeting to submit the completed plan to the Cabinet. The Task Force is comprised of officials from the Division of Gender and Child Affairs; the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs; the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services; the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service; the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago; the Tobago House of Assembly and two members of the Investigation Team.
I wish to assure the nation that whilst the Task Force is undertaking its work, critical action will continue toward the implementation of some of the recommendations, which are already in train by various Ministries. An estimated One Hundred and Twenty-Six Million, Eighty-One Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifteen Dollars ($126,081,715.00) is available to undertake and expedite the various projects.
COMMENTS