Police probing child beatings

Four employees of Children’s Emergency Hostel were placed on leave as police investigate a recent incident where children were purportedly severely beaten by workers, Minister of Social Services Frankie Campbell said yesterday.

“I’m here this afternoon, regrettably, to advise you that an investigation by the National Child Protection Council reveals that there is sufficient information to refer this matter to police for an official investigation,” he said at a press 

conference.

“And that is what we have done. The matter has been referred to the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) for an investigation. I can advise that persons who were directly involved have been relieved of their duties pending the investigation.”

Campbell added, “We know that there are four persons relieved of duty at this point. We won’t venture to say that there may not be more, but at this point, four persons have been relieved of duty pending the investigation.”

He said all of those employees placed on leave are women.

Last week, 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 discipline the children, although in the video, it seems more than one person was beating the children.

Campbell said yesterday that the children will receive independent counseling, beginning as early as today. He said that while the current plan is to use the Ministry of Education’s counseling, funding has been offered for private counseling.

“I can also advise that the children involved from the emergency hostel will be the beneficiaries of independent counseling…that is not connected to the ministry or to the National Child Protection Council or to the board itself,” he said.

“We are very much displeased with where we are with this investigation, but we believe that this is an opportunity for us to continue the work that we’ve been doing, putting together a management agreement for all of our homes, which has a component of discipline in it.” 

Campbell was unable to say whether the incident was an isolated one, or whether such occurrences were frequent at the shelter. However, he noted that the incident that was filmed took place at the end of last year.

While in recent days some have called for an end to corporal punishment in government institutions, Campbell did not say whether it is being considered by the ministry.

“I won’t give a definitive position at this point, but I indicated earlier that there is an ongoing committee that is discussing the entire question of a management agreement for all of our homes.

“…And so, a position will be taken and satisfied.”

He added, “I give you the assurance of myself as the minister, the ministry, and the assurance of the board, that we in no way, form, or fashion approve of any form of abuse against the children in our homes throughout The Bahamas.”

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