Retired Chief Probation and Welfare Officer and former Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA), Ann Greene is sounding the alarm: a dangerous trend is afoot. The particular trend to which she refers is the government’s promotion of individuals based on credentials rather than competence. Greene believes that professionals who lack competence are failing Guyana’s vulnerable children.
Expressing “anguish” over recent tragedies involving two minors, Greene pointed Stabroek News and Guyana Standard to a dangerous decline in the professional execution of duties at the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.
Critiquing the CCPA’s current leadership and staff, Greene highlighted a systemic gap in the law’s application. She alleges that high-ranking positions are being filled by individuals who hold certificates but lack the practical “qualifications” and willingness to lead effectively. This has resulted in a department staffed with professionals who Greene claims are merely “going through the motions,” as they lack the rigorous training and legal knowledge necessary to protect children under the age of 16. She reminded officials that by law, medical officers are required to report any mother under 16 to the CPA. This protocol appears to have been ignored or mishandled in recent cases.
“Certified is just when you have your certificates, but to be qualified is when you are willing to continue to learn and gain experience in the work. The people at CPA must know the Child Protection Laws and the established standard of operations,” Greene stated.
The human cost of these alleged administrative failures is seen in the tragic accounts of two teenagers who slipped through the cracks of state protection. Aleena Preetam, a 14-year-old former student from Essequibo, was found dead in her bed next to her one-month-old infant; a post-mortem later revealed she died of heart failure and anaemia. Despite her age, there is no evidence the state took her into protective care during her pregnancy.
Similarly, 15-year-old Tiana Chapman is fighting for her life in New Amsterdam Hospital after being stabbed 25 times, allegedly by the father of her child. Greene noted that under her tenure, these girls would have been moved to a specialized home in Mahaica, and forensic interviews would have been conducted immediately to trigger police action against adult perpetrators.
As public outcry grows, the official response from the state has been characterized by a notable silence. Both Minister Dr. Vindhya Persaud and CCPA Director Levine Gouveia have remained unreachable despite multiple attempts by the press to seek clarification on the handling of these cases. While the police continue to search for the suspect in the Chapman stabbing and investigate the circumstances of Preetam’s pregnancy, the Women’s Advisory Committee (WAC) of the Guyana Public Service Union has labeled the situation a sexual violence “epidemic.” Citing Section 10 of the Sexual Offences Act, advocates are now demanding a full audit of social services to identify exactly where the system broke down and why these minors were not placed under protective care.
