Children remain hospitalised, to undergo forensic interview

Alleged rape

– perpetrator in custody

The three young girls who were allegedly raped by their step-father and thrown out of the family home remain hospitalised at the New Amsterdam Hospital, while their alleged perpetrator has been arrested.
An official from the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) told Guyana Times that the children aged 4, 7 and 10, will undergo a forensic interview today by the social protection authorities. The interview will be recorded. Afterwards, the CC&PA will compile a report and send it to the Police.
Based upon the report, B (Berbice) Division Commander Ian Amsterdam explained, charges will be laid. He indicated that both the step-father and the mother of the children were in Police custody.
The CC&PA official further indicated that authorities were already looking to place the children with a close relative or to find alternative care.
Police in B Division on Friday launched an investigation into the alleged rape.
The Divisional Commander said that a report was made on Thursday morning and that the suspect, a former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldier, was on the run. However, he was found on Saturday.
“I am told that the mother has 11 daughters and three sons, with the youngest child belonging to this man. The three sisters were spotted somewhere along the seawalls in an area that borders the Berbice River on the East Bank of Berbice and when questioned they claimed that their father abused them, molested them and put them out,” Amsterdam disclosed.
“The mother is unemployed…it is said that she is behaving as if she is suffering from mental problems, but I don’t know if she is indeed suffering from such issues,” he stated.
According to Amsterdam, neighbours were apparently not aware of what was happening. However, reports from the villagers allege that the stepfather is abusive towards the children.