Senior Reporter
shane.superville@guardian.co.tt
As investigations continue into allegations of sexual abuse at the Couva Children’s Home and Crisis Nursery, the home’s manager, Kerri-Ann Leon Sing, says she remains committed to highlighting issues of abuse even if it harms her career. This after she was barred from entering the home yesterday.
Last week, Leon Sing revealed that a 12-year-old resident at the home had allegedly sexually abused 11 children. She reported that between 2018 and 2024, there were 25 instances of sexually inappropriate behaviour.
Leon Sing said officials from the Children’s Authority visited the home yesterday morning to interview staff and children. However, she claimed she was barred from entering the compound and was told by officials she would be interviewed separately later.
Asked if she felt her highlighting the issues publicly would harm her career, Leon Sing said she was aware of the risk to her job but felt it was a necessary sacrifice given the urgent nature of the incidents.
“I already knew since February the minute that I took action, I most likely would not have a job. I knew that in February and I still feel that way in May,” she said.
“Is it going to impact my career? Yes. Am I probably going to be fired by the board or by the chairperson? More than likely but I’ll still continue to advocate this issue currently before the Children’s Authority.”
Leon Sing, who is on vacation, said she had not been suspended from duties at the home and was unaware she was barred from the compound until she visited the facility yesterday.
She was not sure how far along the investigation was but said she expected to be contacted later this week on when she would be interviewed.
Guardian Media visited the home yesterday and attempted to speak with chairman Beverly John but was told by staff she was not available. Efforts to contact her by phone were also futile, as someone who answered said she could not comment on the matter and advised that questions be sent by WhatsApp to be forwarded to the home’s board for response. No response was received up to late yesterday.
At a sitting of the House of Representatives last Friday, Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh raised the issue. Indarsingh’s constituency office is located within walking distance from the home on the Couva Main Road.
Contacted for comment yesterday, Indarsingh said the incident was concerning to him and he wondered whether the home’s management treated the incident with the necessary priority and whether the Children’s Authority was adequately resourced to treat with abuse at children’s homes.
“What is very worrisome to me is the Justice Judith Jones report has over 100 recommendations, are these things being implemented on a timely basis? “What is the role of the Children’s Authority?” he asked.
“We continue to hear the Children’s Authority is understaffed and so on. The Justice Judith Jones report recommended the establishment of a Commissioner of Children’s Homes that will have the oversight and keep these homes in line with the legislation and regulation, but when I posed that question in the Parliament it was not allowed.”
Questions were sent to the Children’s Authority on whether staff were interviewed and how their enquiry would assist the police investigation. In an emailed response, they said they would continue to support the police but could not divulge further information on the matter.
Police sources said officers of the Child Protection Unit (CPU) interviewed two of the children who were allegedly assaulted by the boy and staff are also to be interviewed. They said the focus of officers is to provide psycho-social support to the children so that they are comfortable with being interviewed by investigators.