On the 8th and the 15th of July, this column discussed the unsolved murders of Akiel Chambers and Dane Andrews, who were buggered and killed by unknown attackers. A recent breaking news story last week brought the issue of sex crimes against young males to light again. However, this column will not comment on the ongoing case to avoid breaching the sub judice rule and the principles laid down in the Privy Council judgment of Independent Publishing Company Ltd. v AG and DPP Privy Council Appeal No. 5 of 2003.
From my experience working with the families of survivors of abuse, there is a high incidence of sexual violence against boys and even gang rapes against men in T&T. These, unfortunately, go unreported, so most perpetrators go unpunished and verifiable data is hard to acquire.
As such, I am dependent on data from other countries to illustrate the severity of the problem of male rape. The problem in T&T may be more severe than in the United States or United Kingdom because of our low conviction rate for sex crimes.
Approximately one in six boys (16%) in the US experience sexual abuse before age 18, according to a survey of youth in San Diego conducted by Whitfield et al (2005) on the long-term consequences of childhood sexual abuse by the gender of the victim.
A nationwide study in the US conducted in 2003 by Briere, J et al, reported that 14.2% of men were sexually abused before the age of 18.
While the media generally highlights cases of men who molest or kill younger males, in many cases, women are the ones who perpetrate or assist in the abuse of children, including boys.
The BBC reported on the case of Marie Black in 2015. Black was a ringleader of a paedophile ring that molested two boys and three girls under the age of 13.
“Marie Black, 34, of Norwich, was convicted at Norwich Crown Court of 23 charges, including rape and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. Victims were abused at parties and may have been offered in raffles.
“The case is the most harrowing it has been my misfortune to try,” said Judge Nicholas Coleman.
“I and the jurors had to listen to the truly gruesome details of what took place.”
“Your conduct towards these children can only be described as utterly depraved - the children were subjected to sexual abuse of the worst kind. They were simply passed around like toys.”
Judge Coleman said: “You, Marie Black, were the constant factor in all of these crimes. The offences included adults conspiring to rape children at so-called sex parties. You used them for your own, and for others’ sexual gratification.”
“Black was told she could only be considered for parole after 12 years.”
Like Marie Black’s case, I have heard credible sources talking about sex parties in T&T hosted by wealthy persons that also offered up children to adults willing to molest them. These networks of paedophiles may be the same ones behind the cover-up of the Akiel Chambers’ murder.
Parents of young males should be advised to also look out for the risk of female sexual abusers who may try to groom their young boys for their pleasure or to sell to male abusers.
As a society, we need to destigmatise the issue of male rape and sexual abuse. Even adult men can be assaulted by adult women, as I have in the past interviewed a Trini man who was drugged by a woman in the United States and made to perform sex acts against his will.
I do hope that T&T society sensitises itself to the reality that sex crimes against males exist and deserve the same response as crimes against women do. Victims need to be properly supported by family members and/or civil society organisations so that they can have safe spaces to share their stories without ridicule or scepticism. This will encourage victims to go to the police and report their abusers.
As an advocate for the sex offender registry to be upgraded with new software and expanded, I must remind citizens that a registry only works if there are convictions. Sex offenders who were never convicted cannot be put on the registry; therefore, reports must be made so that the justice system can prosecute offenders.
Based on the kinds of cases we have seen in T&T, including the brutal sexual torture of six-year-old Sean Luke in 2006 and the buggery and murders of Akiel Chambers and Dane Andrews, there is a serious problem with the sexual abuse of young males in T&T.
The majority of paedophiles and human trafficking recruiters operate online, so parents are advised to keep tabs on their boy children, especially online, to prevent them from being exposed to potential predators.
Above all, our society must have more conversations about destigmatising the issue of male sexual abuse so that more survivors of abuse can come out of the shadows.
