Tribunal convened to probe actions of suspected child protection officers

Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud has confirmed that a tribunal has been commissioned to investigate the conduct of two officers attached to the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA), who were seen in a widely circulated video dragging a schoolgirl.
The two officers of the CCPA who were captured in the video dragging the schoolgirl at a bus park have since been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Minister Persaud explained that the Ministry took immediate action after the video surfaced, noting that the incident raised serious red flags and questions.
She also noted that a tribunal has been established to review reports submitted by the officers involved and to hear from them before compiling its findings. Those findings will then guide any further action to be taken by the Ministry.
Dr Persaud also revealed that the matter has been brought to the attention of the Guyana Police Force to ensure all relevant procedures and protocols are followed during the investigation.
Meanwhile, the Minister reiterated that the Ministry has strict protocols governing how officers of the agency should interact with children, adding that staff members undergo continuous training.
The CCPA, in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force, has been conducting daily inspections at various transportation hubs to address the issue of loitering by students.
The exercise, referred to as a “Street Light Activity”, is aimed at promoting the safety, welfare, and school attendance of children while discouraging loitering at public transportation hubs during school hours.
The mother of the child has since told another section of the media that she wants the officers to be held accountable for their actions.
Meanwhile, addressing the matter, APNU Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul stated that, based on information he received, several officers within the CCPA have been elevated to senior positions despite lacking the necessary practical training to effectively handle situations on the ground.
He noted that, while many officers are trained social workers who have completed various online courses and possess theoretical knowledge, they often lack the hands-on experience required to manage complex child protection matters in real-world settings.
“Yes, there are social workers who have passed various online courses, and they like to be associated with child care and protection matters, and they have been good in their theory, but they lack the practical experience, and that is why we are seeing situations such as this.”
The opposition Parliamentarian further argued that the Minister, who has held the portfolio for the past six years, bears responsibility for the current state of the system.
“It is out of order for Minister Vindhya Persaud to say that she has inherited a broken system. She has been sitting there for the past six years, and if it is indeed that she has inherited a broken system, it was she who broke it, and it is she who must now leave it and get somebody else to fix it. You cannot speak about inheriting a broken system when you were sitting there for six years.”
Additionally, he alleged that the Human Services and Social Security Ministry has seen a significant number of staff members leaving their positions, which is quite alarming, and called on the Minister to address this and other pressing matters urgently.