CATEGORY:SEXUAL ASSAULTS
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By Trevor Thwaites
Inside Grenada correspondent
Friday December 01,2006



GRENADA - Sexual assaults on minors is said to be on the increase and the Department of Social Services is calling on nationals to join in the fight to help arrest and bury the matter once and for all.

Violence against young women is a troubling issue, which must be addressed”, Chief Welfare Officer in the Department, Mrs. Arlene Daniel, disclosed during a press conference last week in St George’s.

Daniel said that her Department is very concerned about the 40 or 50 cases of sexual assault on minors that are presently before the High Court. She is of the opinion that such a situation is caused by adults and parents in the various communities, who are condoning relationships between minors and older persons. These relationships, she said, are very prevalent in the transportation sector with young girls becoming friendly and intimate with Bus and Taxi Drivers.

The social official says that the youngsters get into such relationships for economic purposes. But she pointed out that most of these relationships have ended in strife and discontentment, especially when pregnancies occur. “All hell breaks lose when someone under the age of 14 becomes pregnant.” Daniel said that the problem is a serious one, which needs the support of all because sexual assaults are also being committed against girls, who are under the age of 10.

“We are also concerned about physical and verbal violence against women especially in the homes. She said that there many cases of these occurrences happening but the Department is powerless to do anything since reports are being withheld by families. “It is really a troubling and ticklish issue when the information is not forthcoming from the families in question. They have also been numerous instances of fathers sexually abusing their daughters, however, many of these reports have not been forthcoming because as the bread winners, some of them threaten to withhold economic and other forms of support.

The Department has issued a special appeal to men and boys to respect women and girls. It has also called on the media to assist in the fight to rid
the country of violence against women. “Everyone has a role to play - especially the media - to ensure zero tolerance.” The Department of Social Services on Sunday November 26, joined with the rest of the world in the observance of “Violence Against Women’s Day.”

Groups and organizations joined with the Department in a march from the St. Patrick Anglican School onto the Fir Pasture for a rally. The activity, which had the support of RBTT Bank, heard speeches from several officials including Minister of Social Development, the Hon. Yoland Bain Horsford; Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell; Lady Gloria Williams and members of Non Governmental Organizations. The churches have also been encouraged to join the fight by highlighting the issue during their weekly sermons.