The Child Care and Protection Agency (CPA) has issued a startling admission of institutional frustration, with Director Levine Gouveia revealing a series of systemic failures that are re-traumatizing survivors and stalling justice.
Gouveia detailed a harrowing environment where investigative delays and procedural errors are common, such as a recent case involving a foreign national child who was reportedly confronted with their perpetrator at a police station. According to the Director, investigating officers blamed the child and questioned the motives for the report based on her foreign identification. In another instance, a child was allegedly violated by a police officerโs conduct during a forensic interview; despite an investigation by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) that was mandated to conclude in three months, the matter remains unresolved, leading to the expiration of protection orders and the return of children to unsafe environments.
The crisis is further exacerbated by a critical shortage of sexual assault evidence collection kits, commonly known as rape kits, across several administrative regions. Data compiled by the Guyana Standard reveals a “nil” status for kits in Regions 5, 7, 8, and 9, as well as a complete lack of stock at the two major hospitals in Region 4, which are currently requesting 20 kits each. Even in Region 3, where stock exists, the numbers remain low, with only 15 kits at Leonora Cottage Hospital (LCH) and a mere 2 at West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH). Gouveia recounted a recent incident where a region had no kit for a rape victim; two weeks later, a second rape occurred in the same region with the kit still missing.
When the child was finally brought to Georgetown for assistance, the system allegedly failed to facilitate the kit immediately, resulting in further delays that Gouveia described as “appalling.”
Dr. Narine Singh, the Chief Medical Officer, admitted to a critical gap in forensic resources, stating, โNow we realise that we need to get rape kits.โ He explained that the ministry had previously relied on outside support from UNFPA which has since been depleted. โWe had some challenge with the rape kits, I understand this was a donation so they expected us to have the rape kits and itโs finished so now we will have to find the rape kits and have them at the hospitalโฆ So, we are trying to solve it, once we get the rape kits in, each hospital will have a certain amount of rape kits with them.โ
Beyond the shortage of physical kits, Dr. Singh highlighted a need for updated training, particularly following an “influx of foreign trained doctors who are not aware of the system.” While training was conducted approximately two years ago for doctors in some regions, the CMO noted that a new protocol is currently being developed. โWe’re actually doing a new protocol. We will do a much wider training, I mean. Especially in our district, and regional hospitals. With the doctors,โ Dr. Singh said, adding that he hopes to begin this training within the next two months with support from the UNFPA.
The quality of medical-legal documentation remains a primary concern for the ministry, as poor reporting often leads to the collapse of legal cases. โWe have all the protocols, and how to correct the reports, of the signing, and make sure that it’s properly written. Because, I’ve seen so many reports, that are so poorly written, that in cases, sometimes, the cases won’t close. Because, there’s no evidence.โ
Dr. Singh also addressed the common reluctance of medical professionals to engage with the legal system. โDoctors don’t like to go to court. And, I say, if you don’t want to go to court, you have to do your report properly,โ he said.
Under the new strategy, the ministry aims to ensure specialized competency is available at every facility. โWe can’t train everybody, but at least two doctors in each hospital, will be trained to do the reports, and make sure that they’re properly done.โ He further emphasized that the process must include a hand-off to social services: โThe other part of it, is the connection with the social services. Once we do the medical examination, we should report to the social workers, what they’re doing.โ
Ultimately, Dr. Singh maintained that the standard of care should be universal, stating that โevery doctor, registered, or fully registered doctor, should be able to do the report.โ
Minister of Human Services Dr. Vindhya Persaud stated that the government provides the financial capability for all health facilities to be stocked. This was supported by Dr. Erica Forte, Permanent Secretary and a former Regional Health Officer, who noted that in previous years, kits were consistently available.
However, sources in the system revealed that the country was experiencing this shortage since the outbreak of Covid19. They also revealed that the donation of rape kits from UNFPA finished years ago and there were no efforts made to replace same. Concerns are also raised about the lack of training for medical professionals in the use of rape kits.
A few doctors from Georgetown and other regions reported that in their many years as doctors, they have never been trained in the use of rape kits. Forte argued that the current issue lies in the failure to move kits between institutions when needed, forcing traumatized patients to travel long distances instead of moving the equipment to the survivor. She emphasized that every shift should have a doctor capable of conducting the two-hour examination and that the medical system is currently transitioning from a manual, handwriting-heavy model to a more efficient “checkbox” system to reduce the time victims spend in the facility.
Beyond medical logistics, Gouveia highlighted a recurring “merry-go-round” of accountability involving the police and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Gouveia noted that case files are frequently described as being “somewhere in transit,” and it often takes two to three weeks just to secure a medical appointment for a child, missing critical forensic windows. These delays are compounded by poor cooperation from family members, which often necessitates keeping children in protective care for extended periods.
Despite the CPA being under a “microscope” by the court, Gouveia lamented that the agency is not the enforcer of justice and cannot control the actions of the police or the medical system.
The Director concluded by calling for a “fixed and fixed now” approach to the national response, emphasizing that the current process is a persistent child protection crisis. While the 2026 budget includes funding to increase regional financial support, Gouveia stressed that a coordinated national commitment is the only way to ensure justice. Gouveia expressed that the current state of affairs is one of deep frustration for the agency and the families involved, stating that while the government provides the framework, the persons manning the system must take ownership of the trauma children face to prevent these “heartrending” failures from continuing.
