Child beatings being probed

An investigation has been launched into reports of abuse at the Children’s Emergency Hostel, Minister of Social Services Frankie Campbell said yesterday.

“It was suggested that it was the Children’s Emergency Hostel,” he told reporters outside Cabinet.

“As a result of that, I caused some preliminary inquiries to be done, and those inquiries suggested to me that it is necessary to launch a full investigation. And so that investigation commenced this morning.”

Campbell said the initial investigation was launched by the Child Protection Council.

“And if it warrants anything more, we will go wherever we have to ensure it is clearly understood that we will not accept any kind of abuse towards our children,” he said.

On Monday, a video circulated on social media purportedly depicting children at the hostel being physically abused by adults.

At one point in that video, it appears that a child was being held down on a table by one adult, while another beat the child severely. 

A woman in a wheelchair was also later seen beating a child as another attempted to hold the child in place.

Other children and adults watched as the scene unfolded. 

The children’s home, which houses some 30 children and employs a staff of roughly 20, is underfunded, The Nassau Guardian understands.

Only the administrator of the hostel is permitted to hit the children, although in the video it seems more than one person was beating the children.

Campbell said nobody had been placed on leave as a result of the incident, noting that the investigation will determine the way forward.

“The investigation will determine that and so I don’t want to preempt,” he said.

“But I want to assure you that we will leave no stone unturned and we will let the chips fall where they may. And at the end of the day, as I came forward to you this morning, I will come and update you as to what has transpired.”

Campbell said the Ministry of Social Services has been taking steps to put management agreements in place with the privately-owned children’s homes. He said discipline protocols are an essential part of those agreements.

“…Even prior to this, we have been having regular meetings trying to put together management agreements because you may appreciate that all of these homes are not owned by the government,” he said.

“Many of them we are partnering with.

“That notwithstanding, the welfare of the children is ours. The children are our children. And so, we want to ensure that in those management agreements that there is a protocol for discipline. And there is a distinct difference between discipline and abuse. And we draw the line there.”

Campbell added, “I want to make it clear that in no way, form, or fashion do we support any form of abuse against children, adults, girls, boys, women – no form of violence or abuse. We do not support it in any way, form, or fashion.

“As the minister responsible for the eight children’s homes with approximately 150 children throughout the commonwealth, including Grand Bahama and Cat Island, it is my job to ensure that those children enjoy the full safety and comfort and security that the state has to offer.

“And so, I want to assure the public who would have seen the videos, who out of concern would have shared them with me, I want to assure those who are likely to start paging me, that I am on the job as it relates to this matter.

“I want to thank all who have expressed genuine concern and to reassure the public that this matter will be fully investigated. It will be impartially investigated.

“I have spoken to the chairman of the board at the Children’s Emergency Hostel and we are on the same page.”

When called for comment yesterday, officials at the hostel said they were not able to speak about the incident because it is under investigation.

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