The ‘street light project,’ an initiative aimed at ensuring children have a safe environment away from the dangers that lurk on the roadways was recently launched by the Human Services and Social Security Ministry.
It was launched during Child Protection Week 2022, which was being held under the theme “Keeping Children Safe through Community Collaboration.”
Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud reiterated government’s effort to provide the necessary support to ensure no child dwells on the street.
“We want a country where there is no child on the street, if that child needs shelter, and food, and education and everything else that is a child’s right. The ministry is committed to providing that, the ministry is also committed to working with the parents and the family, to ensuring that when that child goes back into the family’s care, those things will be provided, because we will create a database and follow up those children to ensure that they have stability in their lives,” Dr. Persaud said.
It was revealed that officers from the ministry’s child protection office reported seeing over 30 children on one day alone in specific areas, especially at traffic lights in Georgetown.
The minister pointed out that the initiative comes after a year of actively working with parents and children to resolve this growing issue.
It was revealed that the Child Protection Law of 2009. Section 49, states, “A person who by commission or omission wilfully contributes to a child being a child in need of protective intervention commits an offence and is liable to a summary conviction to a fine of $200,000 GUY or to imprisonment of six months”.
As such, Dr. Persaud called on parents, guardians and citizens to report instances of children being on the streets, as they are exposed to a series of risks.
“It’s important when we have children on the street to understand the risk out there not only of exploitation, but of abuse. And it is also important to look deeper into the matter to see what triggers those children being on the street, and why their parents are not integrally involved in supervising them. So, when you see children on the street, report it, make that call 914, three easy numbers to remember, make that call report what you see,” the minister appealed.
Minister Persaud noted that her ministry is collaborating with the Guyana Police Force to ensure children receive the help they need.
She stressed that Child Protection Officers will also be patrolling communities across the country to ensure children are kept off the streets.
Additionally, UN Resident Coordinator Yesim Oruc, UNICEF representative Irfan Akhtar and members of the police force were also present at the launch.
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