Anglican Bishop: Sex abuse reports at children’s home disturbing

Anglican Bishop Claude Berkley yesterday described as “disturbing” reports from the Children’s Authority that 19 children from the St Mary’s Children’s Home had made reports about being sexually abused.

Berkley said he received an initial report on the allegations early yesterday and had directed the Anglican board to hold a meeting to discuss what is being described as a breakdown of supervision at the Tacarigua home. The meeting started at 4pm yesterday.

He said he had not previously been aware of the alleged abuse at the home, but insisted remedial action has to be taken forthwith.

“I find it very disturbing, the reports which have surfaced,” he said. “It is very disturbing because there is a system in place for the full care of the children, and to hear that they are affected is unacceptable.

“It is clear that there is a breakdown in operations and we need to hear what is the source of this breakdown, how the matter would be addressed by those with the responsibility, and what is the plan for the way forward.

“There are always accusations and rumours surfacing. At the level of the management, we have been assured that these matters are not so, and if anything arises it will be dealt with expeditiously. The initial stop has to be the supervision of the children.”

He said the last figure he had was that there were about 40 children at the home, but noted there are always children leaving and others being accepted as wards there.

Berkley confirmed the 19 children who were removed from the home by the Children’s Authority last Friday and taken to the San Fernando Teaching Hospital to be examined are back at the home.

A source said the children are now being supervised by social workers from the Children’s Authority and yesterday they were being interviewed by officers from the police Child Protection Unit. The Children’s Authority will maintain a presence at the home pending the outcome of the police investigation.

Sources reveal that of the 19 children examined, four were deemed to have been sexually active.

The Children’s Authority was alerted to alleged sexual abuse of children at the home, which led to the investigation.

The children who said they had been sexually assaulted are 14 boys and five girls, aged from four to 14.