Committee appointed to investigate sexual allegations and molestation tables report to Parliament

(BIS Release) Nassau, Bahamas -- The Select Committee of the House of Assembly to investigate allegations of sexual molestation in the Eight Mile Rock High School tabled its report to Parliament in the morning session, Wednesday, January 20.

On April 16, 2009 the Committee was formed to review and consider all matters pertaining to allegations of sexual abuse and sexual molestation at the Eight Mile Rock High School and all matters related thereto and an inquiry into procedures and protocols of the Ministry of Education relative to allegations of sexual abuse, sexual molestation, and any form of sexual misconduct in the Public School System.

Committee members included Glenys Hanna-Martin, Chairperson and MP for Englerston; the Hon Loretta Butler-Turner, Minister of State for Social Services; Obie Wilchcombe, MP for West End and Bimini; Kwasi Thompson, Deputy Speaker and MP for Pineridge and Kenyatta Gibson, MP for Kennedy.

In April of last year in the wake of several allegations of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of students at the Eight Mile Rock High School, allegedly perpetrated by a male teacher at that institution, the House of Assembly agreed to the appointment of the Committee to investigate the allegations.

According to Mrs Hanna-Martin, the report focused on ascertaining the established procedures and protocols in place at the time of the alleged incidents and to determine whether these procedures and protocols were adhered to in the face of the allegations.

Mrs Hanna-Martin said it is “disturbing” that there were statements in evidence that teachers, administrators and staff were all aware of allegations and “failed” to report it.

“It is critical that teachers and administrators receive continual training on how to recognize signs of abuse,” she said.

Witnesses recommended that teachers receive specific guidelines on appropriate behaviour with students outside of school hours, spelling out under what circumstances they should spend time away from school with a student and what places are not appropriate to take students outside school hours.  And, what are appropriate gifts for students, including cash, gifts, lunches etc., said the report.

The chairman indicated that the Government has already implemented a response to such events. Further, she said the Department of Social Services advised that it is “reviewing” and “fortifying” its inter-agency procedural manual so as to develop dialogue with all social partners including the Ministry of Education and the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

The report said the Ministry of Education has advised that it has created a new manual providing guidelines for action in the event of such allegations. Included in the manual is a key ring, which has been circulated to all children in pubic schools with contacts for the Police and a hot line.

The Committee presented several recommendations in the report. Among them was that a “more expedited” process be undertaken by the Attorney General’s Office or that the Police be empowered to arrest and charge an accused person thereby allowing the bail process to monitor the movements of an accused person.

The report said a more “keen” focus be brought to the “expeditious” prosecution of sexual offences; and greater coordination and communication must be fostered between the headquarters of all government ministries and their offices in islands throughout the archipelago.

Furthermore, the chairman said there is a need for more security officers and more training for security officers to monitor activities of students and teachers on campus after school hours.

“The Committee asserts that systems and structures must be put in place to identify and prevent child sexual abuse. Further, all systems and structures must be subject to a sustained evaluation process to ensure its effectiveness, otherwise, we run the risk of a similar set of circumstances unfolding at high human cost,” said Mrs Hanna Martin.

The Committee thanked the staff of the Office of the Prime Minister, Lady Naomi Wallace-Whitfield and Don Cornish, Island Administrator for their assistance.