The month of May which is designated as child’s month was marred with child sexual abuse complaints, arrest and charges.
According to UNICEF St Vincent and the Grenadines are among the top four Caribbean countries for sex offences against children.
During May the police made several arrests which stood out in the minds of Vincentians.
Below are a few of the arrest which stood out;
- Police arrested and charged Remano Roberts, 46-year-old Fisherman of Ottley Hall for Indecent Assault.
According to investigations, on 11.05.2018 at 7:30 p.m. Roberts indecently assaulted a 7-year-old minor to wit, “By feeling and sucking her vagina with his mouth and hands”.
The minor being a girl under the age of 15 years.
- Police have arrested and charged Ahkino Rhynd, 32-year-old Labourer of Canouan for Gross Indecency and Indecent Assault, on Friday 18th May 2018.
According to reports, between 1st April 2018 and 30th April 2018 at Canouan, Rhynd allegedly incited a 5-year-old minor to commit an act of Gross Indecency to wit, “By instructing her to suck his penis”, she is a child under the age of fifteen years.
Rhynd also allegedly indecently assaulted the minor to wit, “By rubbing his penis on her vagina”, she being a girl under the age of fifteen years.
He was sentenced to serve six (6) months for the charge of Gross Indecency and eighteen (18) months for the charge of indecent assault. The sentences are to run concurrently.
- Simeon Francois, 33, was charged with abduction, buggery, attempted rape and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in connection with the violation of a 10yro girl.
He was savagely beaten by villagers and had to be rescued by Police.
According to the statistics, for a child under the age of 13, there were 29 reported cases of child sexual offences in 2014.
For 2015 the number jumps to a staggering 40 as compared to the population of the island.
In 2016 the number of reported sexual offences remained at 40, while in 2017 that number is reduced to 31.
For reported cases of sexual abuse of children under the age of 15 in 2014, there were 55 cases.
In 2015 there were 48 cases while in 2016 there were 68 cases, and in 2017, there were 78 reported cases.
Information also showed that the persons who are most likely to abuse children in St Vincent are (1) Family members, (2) family friends, and (3) caretakers.
