Georgetown, Guyana – Amanza Walton-Desir, the Leader of the Forward Guyana Movement and an Opposition Member of Parliament, has raised concerns regarding the state’s child protection mechanisms following the disclosure of 584 pregnancies involving girls under the age of 16. Walton-Desir is advocating for a thorough examination of how these cases are handled within the criminal justice system.
The figure of 584 pregnancies was revealed in the National Assembly, indicating that these cases were referred to the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) between the years 2020 and 2025. Walton-Desir argues that this data raises significant questions about the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in addressing incidents that may involve statutory rape and other serious sexual offenses.
“We need to examine whether these figures align with the number of cases entering the criminal justice system,” Walton-Desir stated. She highlighted the importance of analyzing the correlation between agency referrals and active court cases to assess the functionality of the country’s protective frameworks.
Walton-Desir pointed out that the issue is not a lack of domestic legislation but rather systemic gaps in accountability, execution, and tracking of cases. She posed critical questions regarding the consistency of referrals, the timeliness of investigations, and the outcomes for the affected children.
“Are these interventions producing better outcomes for these vulnerable children? Those are the questions that need answers,” she emphasized. Walton-Desir insisted that both the National Assembly and the public deserve a clear, data-driven understanding of the process from reported underage pregnancies to protective service intervention, police investigation, and judicial enforcement.
She concluded that the alarming statistics should prompt immediate action from regional policymakers and legislators to identify and address institutional vulnerabilities, ensuring the protection of the nation’s youth.
Source: hgptv.com
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