WBB residents call for action as 5-month-pregnant teen faces neglect

A West Bank Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) teenager, now five months pregnant and forced to leave school, is at the centre of allegations involving a West Coast Berbice taxi driver. Residents have said that the matter was reported weeks ago, but no investigation has been launched and no action taken, even as the child continues to live in poor conditions.
According to information reaching this publication, the alleged incident occurred when the teenager was 15 years old. She is now five months pregnant, and her pregnancy has resulted in her no longer attending school.
Residents are claiming that the matter was reported approximately two months ago to the Child Welfare Department, but to date, there has been no visible intervention or follow-up.
Checks by this publication with Police sources indicate that the matter has not been formally reported to the Police. As a result, there has been no known confrontation between the alleged victim and the taxi driver, who is said to reside in Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice.
The situation has sparked concern within the community, with several residents expressing frustration that nothing appears to be happening despite the seriousness of the situation.
The teenager is reportedly from a single-parent household. Her father died approximately eight years ago, leaving her mother as the sole provider for the family.
As a result, the mother has been forced to work, often leaving the children alone, including the now-pregnant teenager and her younger siblings.
Compounding the situation are the conditions under which the family is living as residents report that the home does not have access to electricity or running water, further heightening concerns about the vulnerability of the child.
With the teenager now five months pregnant and still no investigation underway, residents are urging the Human Services Ministry and the Police to act swiftly to address the matter and ensure that the necessary support and intervention are provided.
Only on Tuesday, during her visit to Region Five, Minister Vindhya Persaud convened an urgent meeting at the Fort Wellington Office with Police officers, regional health officials, and childcare officers to address critical gaps in the handling of sexual assault cases.
According to a post on the Human Services Ministry’s social media page, the meeting focused heavily on the delays in conducting medical examinations for victims, both adults and children, as well as the need for detailed and properly documented case reports.