Child development minister urges citizens to protect the children from abuse

Verna St Rose Greaves: "Every one of us has to be responsible..."

The minister of Gender, Youth and Child Development on Tuesday appealed to citizens to be vigilant and take action to protect children from abuse.

Verna St Rose Greaves made the appeal as she responded to the tragic death of two-year old Aaliyah Johnson, who was allegedly sexually and physically abused. The child was pronounced dead on Easter Sunday at the Siparia hospital.

Health care personnel contacted police after they saw what they believed were marks of violence and sexual abuse on the child's body. Police are questioning two relatives about the matter.

The minister spoke with reporters during the Senate tea break, noting that there are many children who are living under horrible conditions every day.

"It's a very sad situation, it's regrettable, we offer our condolences and it's not just the family, while they may be feeling it, it's every child in this country," St Rose Greaves said.

"I'm asking everyone, I am making an appeal to the public, we all have to do our part, the media included, the information must be out there, the education must be out there, the people who are supposed to respond when people make their calls or when they come in," she said."We are certainly trying to do out part to set up the institutions and the structures and the respite houses that are required, it is not going to happen overnight so in the meantime communities must be vigilant, families must be vigilant, we must do our part," said St Rose Greaves.

She said citizens should not expect the Government to do everything.

"I keep saying the children we know about are the ones who die and make it in the media but every day in this country there are many many children who are going through torture and I think we have to wise up as a people and we have to understand that we must work together," said St Rose Greaves.

She pointed out that the Children's Authority is partially up and running and Government is working on setting up institutions and safe houses.

"Every one of us has to be responsible...we as Government have to give the education, we have to teach people what are the signs to look for, who to go to for help, issues of child development, understanding behaviour, supporting mothers so that they don't go into unsafe situations, so it's a multiplicity of things.

"Sometimes I think it is better when we discuss them outside of the anger because you are hearing people who are very very angry and wanting to get violent and so on but I think it must not be a conversation that takes place only when something happens," St Rose Greaves said.