KALIFA CLYNE and
YVONNE BABOOLAL
The Children’s Authority has adequate staff, an assessment centre, trained professionals and a new board but cannot function because of a delay in proclamation of the necessary legislation.
Yesterday, eight people received instruments of appointment to serve on the board but chairman Stephanie Daly said the authority was still waiting on proclamation of legislation.
The legislation, however, is not at the Office of the President but instead with the Child Protection Task Force which was set up by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in 2013 following the murder of six-year-old Keyana Cumberbatch.
Cumberbatch was killed and stuffed in a shipping barrel at her Maloney Gardens, D’Abadie, home. Her step-father, Dwayne Lewis, was charged for the crime.
The task force was established and given the responsibility to review all existing policies, legislation and protocols in place to protect children.
In January, Minister of Gender, Child and Youth Development Clifton De Coteau moved a motion asking the Senate to approve the Foster Care Regulations, 2014, the Children’s Authority Regulations, 2014, and the Children’s Community Residences Regulations, 2014.
The Adoption Bill was passed in the Senate last month.
Yesterday, communications officer at the Office of the President, Theron Boodan said the legislation was not at the Office of the President.
“The Office of the President is not delaying the Act. The bill has to come back to the Office of the President after being reviewed by the Children’s Task Force,” said Boodan.
Chairman of the task force, Diana Mahabir-Wyatt did not answer several calls to her mobile phone.
“We have a vibrant and strong authority growing by the minute. The key issue, though, is proclamation. It is really important that we start up with proclamation. We don’t want to lose the credibility with the public,” said Daly.
De Coteau said yesterday the authority should never be perceived as “a toothless tiger or an absentee landlord.”
He told the board members they must contribute to a society where all children were valued and protected.
“The Government has been working to ensure the operationalisation of the authority and today (yesterday) is another pivotal step in having it fully functional,” he said.
De Coteau told the board once the necessary laws were proclaimed they would be facing very hard work.
He said the 2011 national census reported that children 17 years and younger accounted for 25 per cent of the population, amounting to just over 332,000 citizens.
“This translates into a quarter of the population needing special care and attention. Whatever affects this group will determine what the future of our country looks like,” he said.
One of the authority’s major projects, the country’s first assessment centre should be ready in September, the minister said.
The centre at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex would provide a safe location to assess children in need of protection.
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The term of the last board, which was appointed in March 2010, expired over a week ago.
The only returning members are Daly, Dr Joanne Paul and Reaaz Dabiedeen. Daly was reappointed yesterday as chairman.
Former members, including social worker, Gregory Sloane-Seale, were replaced.
Other members
of the authority
Vidya Rampersad.
Angela Iloo.
Anna Maria Mora.
Dr Derek Forrester.
Shannen-Marie Russell.
Dhanesh Maraj.