Severely abused children rescued in Region 6, rushed for medical care

Children found in circumstances of severe abuse and mistreatment in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) have been removed from their environment and placed under the protection of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA), the Human Services and Social Security Ministry said on Friday.
In a statement, the Ministry said the Agency intervened immediately after receiving information from a concerned citizen about the children’s circumstances.
The children are being taken to the hospital for medical assessment and care before being placed in state care, the Ministry said, assuring the public that they are now safe under the Agency’s protection.
Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud condemned the treatment of the children and the conditions in which they were found.
“No child should ever have to live under these conditions or endure such cruelty. It is deeply distressing that children have been subjected to this treatment. Our immediate priority is their safety, their health and ensuring that they receive the care and protection they need,” the Minister said.

The Ministry also appealed to members of the public and the media to respect the children’s privacy and dignity by refraining from publishing or circulating photographs, videos or identifying details.
The Minister thanked the citizen whose report prompted the intervention and urged communities to report suspected cases of child abuse, neglect or unsafe living conditions.
“We cannot act on what we do not know. Please tell us when a child is being harmed or is living in circumstances that threaten their safety and well-being. Your report can bring help to a child who may have no way of asking for it. Today, because someone cared enough to speak up, we were able to intervene immediately,” Persaud said.
She stressed that protecting children was a shared responsibility and called on families, neighbours and communities to remain alert to signs that a child may be at risk.
“We must care about what happens to the children around us. Wherever there is a child, the adults in that community should be looking out for that child’s safety and well-being. We need to treat their suffering with the same urgency and concern we would if they were our own family. We must never turn away when a child needs help,” she said.
The Ministry urged anyone with information about suspected child abuse or neglect to report it promptly to the CCPA or the police, noting that direct reporting allows authorities to intervene while limiting children’s further exposure and distress.