3,000 Child Sex Abuse Cases in 8 Months in Trinidad

Trinidad, Maracas Bay

Marlene Augustine
Trinidad & Tobago Newsday 

WITHIN an eight month period from May to December 2015, 3,000 children in this country fell victim to sexual abuse. More than 230 sexual offences were committed against infants zero to five years, in the same period.

Way more female abusers of infants than male

Acting Supt Beverly Rodriguez of the Child Protection Unit (CPU) revealed this yesterday indicating that in the zero to five years category, offences for males numbered 65, while for females, the figure was 171, a total of 236. 

The most prevalent offence was sexual penetration followed by sexual touching. Rodriguez spoke at the weekly press briefing at Police Administration Building, Port-of- Spain. She said the figures were of great concern to the CPU and Police Service. She disclosed that for the same eight-month period 986 matters were investigated. 

For 2016, 2,122 cases were under investigation. She added that 591 matters in 2016 were brought to the stage of prosecution, while 271 cases were prosecuted in 2015. 

Giving the gender and age breakdown of sexual offences involving children for the period May 2015 to Dec 2016 Rodriguez said, 

Males between zero and five years, 65 reported cases, 

males between six -11 there were  260, 

males between 12 & 16,                 254, 

males between 17 & 18,                   29.

Females between zero & 5,      171, 

females between six & 11,        601, 

females between 12 & 16,        775,

females between 17 & 18,          85.

Rodriguez explained that there are a number of contributing factors that are responsible for sexual offences committed against children. “Each case is treated and judged on its own facts which could lead to peer-pressure and lack of communications. Family members who are related to these victims are among the largest and are the majority of the offending persons.” 

Rodriguez encouraged young persons to come forward and inform their parents, guardians, or care-givers of any sort of inappropriate touching. 

“If you feel uncomfortable in any way by inappropriate touching of any sort committed by relatives... 

a brother or uncle, it must not be encouraged. It must be told to your parents immediately, tell your parents,” she said. 

Rodriguez said CPU was established to fulfill the requirements of the Children’s Act 12 of 2012, The Children’s Authority Act Chapter 46:10 and the Children’s Community Residences, Foster Homes and Nurseries Amendment Act 2008. The role and function of the CPU is to investigate recent reports of crimes against children including:- sexual offences, sexual abuse, physical abuse abandonment /neglect and ill treatment. 

The population of Trinidad was about 1.26 million people in 2011. Making some large demographic assumptions, the math works out to 20% of children being sexually abused by 18 years of age. That is only counting those abuses that are reported. Actual abuses are likely to be much higher.