Terrence Campbell, Member of Parliament and lead for A Partnership for National Unity, is sounding the alarm over what he describes as an “epidemic” of missing children and child abuse, calling for the immediate formation of specialized interagency search teams and the creation of a national database to combat the rising crisis.
Campbell issued a stern warning today, citing a staggering list of at least 11 children reported missing, abused, or killed in less than two months. Campbell noted that in over 50 years of following Guyanese current affairs, the frequency of these reports is unprecedented and requires an urgent, coordinated state response.
During a video address posted on his Facebook page, Campbell outlined a grim timeline of cases that have gripped communities from the East Coast to Linden since the start of February. He highlighted the disappearance of 16-year-old Yonita Girdari and 13-year-old Kevin James early in the month, alongside the tragic death of 14-year-old Aleena Preetam, who passed away just weeks after giving birth. Campbell also pointed to the brutal stabbing of 15-year-old Tiana Chapman and a spike in disappearances toward the end of March, including three teenage girls reported missing on a single day. The MP warned that without intervention, more of these cases are likely to end in fatalities.
The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has not issued a response up to press time.
While the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has touted its rapid response team for child neglect, Campbell argued that a critical “gap” exists regarding active disappearances. He proposed the implementation of a national missing person database to provide transparency, ensuring the public is informed when children are safely recovered or when cases remain open. Furthermore, he called for the Ministries of Human Services, Legal Affairs, and Home Affairs to move beyond rhetoric and establish search protocols that “spring into action” the moment a child is reported missing, rather than leaving families in a state of uncertainty.
In addition to search efforts, the MP emphasized the need for vigorous prosecution of those responsible for underage pregnancies and child exploitation. He noted that despite the prevalence of these issues, the public rarely sees reports of offenders being brought to justice. Campbell ended his address by challenging the administration to fix the systemic issues now, urging the government not to wait until the epidemic expands further or more lives are lost before taking decisive action to protect the nation’s youth.
