The placards bearing those three words, 'We Want Justice', are so common that oftentimes we overlook instances when the system actually works.
However,
THE STAR was able to report one such case yesterday, where justice was served in a situation that has for way too long gone seemingly unchecked.
It was reported that a woman from St Catherine, who was not named in the story, was sentenced to six months at hard labour for failing to report to the authorities that her 14-year-old daughter, who gave birth to a child, was sexually involved. The investigating officer told the court that the mother knew of the relationship and she was charged, tried and convicted for negligence.
The father, whose whereabouts could not be ascertained for some time, was finally held. He is out on bail and will return to court in March.
While young girls will be interested in older men and
vice versa, far too many times actual relationship is facilitated by the child's parent or parents, with finances playing a major role in allowing it to start and continue. In this case, the parent or parents act, in effect, like a pimp, prostituting their child.
This may or may not be what happened in this case, but we hope that it serves as a warning to other parents who facilitate relationships between their very young daughters and older men. This common and horrendous abuse has serious long-term consequences, including children having children, and the inevitable social fallout which follows.
Do
you have a problem? Is something bothering
you? Write to