Children should not be vending, begging – CCPA Head

“When you purchase from a child that is vending, you are part of the problem, and you are part of the exploitation of that child and if you throw a dollar in a child’s outstretched hand, you are part of the problem, you are part of his exploitation.”
Those were the sentiments shared by the Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA), Ann Greene at the Agency’s head office on Charles and Broad Streets, Georgetown on Monday during one of the initial events being hosted to observe Child Protection Week.

Her statements came after being questioned by Guyana Times about the recent increase in children vending water and other items at traffic lights.
According to the Director, such activities should not be condoned by sympathetic persons, since it will only result in the action being continued rather than being resolved.
She said too that it only supported the exploitation of the child, since many times those monies were taken away from the children by their parents.
“People should not (buy from those children), what people should do is link them to the services (CCPA), like talk with them, find out what is happening and tell them where they can come…if you stop (giving or buying from them) you become part of the solution and not problem…but don’t keep giving children money or purchase from children who are vending. We would never get it to stop,” she informed.
Greene reminded that child vending was illegal as was child begging, and they ought not to be on the streets but in school. She explained that children who were on the streets become vulnerable since they endanger their lives while running to a person’s vehicle, in an attempt to help their parents or guardians put food on the table.
According to her, such matters should be reported to the CCPA, which can result in action being taken against the parents or guardians as have happened before.
She said the purpose of the CCPA was to investigate matters such as these and help children who are in need. Greene added while she understood poverty was a sore issue which often resulted in these activities, it was not a child’s duty to help parents earn an income.
This newspaper was told that on various streets in the city of Georgetown, children have been running to vehicles to sell water and other beverages, especially at stoplights. They have also found themselves at these very stoplights wiping windshields for an extra dollar in their pockets.