Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Ayanna Webster-Roy has distanced herself from the recent suspension of a manager at the Couva Children’s Home and Crisis Nursery, insisting she is not responsible for any oversight of the home.
On Thursday, it was reported that Kerri-Ann Leon Sing was placed on suspension on the grounds that she had breached the home’s confidentiality policy by revealing matters relating to an internal investigation into alleged abuse by a resident and proceeding on vacation without authorisation.
One week earlier, Leon Sing had raised concerns to Guardian Media over reports of sexual abuse at the home involving a 12-year-old resident.
Despite the backlash, Leon Sing maintained she has not regretted her decision.
Contacted for comment yesterday, Webster-Roy, who has responsibility for Gender and Child Affairs in the Office of the Prime Minister, said she was not responsible for the hiring or firing of staff.
When asked whether she felt any responsibility as line minister, Webster-Roy said, “I ensure that the home is financially resourced. I don’t have any oversight there.”
Meanwhile, during the Women’s Entrepreneurial Development and Product Expo “Women’s Village” on Harris Promenade, San Fernando, on Wednesday, the minister referred questions regarding the matter to the Children’s Authority.
In her address at the event, however, the minister said the media often carry negative stories surrounding children but many positive things are happening.
She said, “I know 99.9 per cent of the times when the thing hit the media when it comes to children is the bad news, but it has good things happening as well. We are doing meaningful work to address issues surrounding children in Trinidad and Tobago. We have partnered with a various number of entities and agencies to address issues around children and youth mental health.”
With the help of UNICEF and other agencies, she said they have developed a directory of children’s services and a workbook for mental health for children.
She said they also have a standing committee on child protection that meets regularly, as they work towards improving and building a stronger childcare protection sector.
“Acknowledging the faults, recognising the gaps, but also resolute in our commitment towards ensuring that children in Trinidad and Tobago have an opportunity to grow and strive and become meaningful contributors to national development. We are one of the few countries in the region with a National Child Policy,” Webster-Roy said.
Webster-Roy said the Children’s Authority also has the resources and funding it requires.
“For the first time, the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago would have received the funds they would have required. So if it is a matter of money, they can’t complain,” she said.
Whilst people have knocked the Minister of Finance for being stingy, she said he has never been so when it comes to matters pertaining to Children and Gender and Child Affairs.
“The money has always been allocated, resources have always been provided to ensure that we protect some of our most vulnerable citizens, our children and particularly our women,” she said.
As she encouraged women to empower themselves and support one another, she said the Women’s Village was a platform for women to network and become economically empowered, domestic violence survivors.
She said, “What happened at our domestic violence centre, we recognised that as soon as women who have transitioned out, they either end up in another shelter or back in services and in discussions. We recognised why this happened because they would be re-victimised because they are financially dependent on the perpetrators and we needed to create an opportunity for them to not be financially dependent on their perpetrators and the Women’s Village is just one aspect of it.”