Keep up the good work Melanie.

http://newslinebahamas.com/nlb/local/content.cfm?content_id=314

My link must have not been working, because I can't believe that these concerned Bahamians with so much desire to see The Bahamas and its image improve do not deem this worthy of comment. :gi:



Child Protection Act sends a clear message

By Bahamas Information Services

NASSAU, The Bahamas --- Minister of Social Services and Community Development the Hon. Melanie Griffin told Parliament Wednesday (October 25) that passage of the proposed Child Protection Act, 2006, will send a clear message to persons who deliberately hurt children that "enough is enough" and they will be penalized for their actions.

Minister Griffin said the same message would also be sent to those persons who do not bring "focus to bear" on the rearing of their children and to those who leave their children to fend for themselves.

Minister Griffin said the proposed legislation should transcend partisanship and send a clear and plain message to the children of The Bahamas that "we care as parents, as guardians, as caregivers, as a Government, as a people and as a nation."

"I speak out for justice for our children and I commend this proposed legislation to colleagues in this place, not as a panacea, not as a perfect document, but as one that will go a long way in improving the quality of life for our children and strengthen our families," Minister Griffin said as she opened debate on the legislation.

"For too long we have been offending our little ones for whom God hold us accountable. They are being subjected to all manner of abuses - sexual, incest, physical, verbal, emotional, abandonment and neglect.

"They are being kicked about like footballs by adults who are unwilling or unable to resolve their differences and work out a peaceful and loving environment in which they can grow into productive (and) well-rounded citizens," Minister Griffin added.

She said the legislation seeks firstly to implement measures to enable the enforcement in law of certain responsibilities that persons should discharge to the young with whom they have relations.

The Minister said it further seeks to enable The Bahamas to fulfill certain obligations assumed under the Convention on the Rights of the Child to which the country was a signatory on October 30, 1990, and ratified on February 20, 1991.
Additionally, Minister Griffin said, the legislation proposes to amalgamate several pieces of existing laws that address the welfare and interests of children in The Bahamas.

She said that once passed, the legislation will result in the repeal of the Children and Young Persons (Administration of Justice) Act; the Maintenance of Emigrants Act; the Guardianship and Custody of Infants Act; The Affiliation Proceedings Act and the Infants' Relief Act.

Minister Griffin said the passage of the proposed Act will result in changes to sections of the Matrimonial Causes (Summary Jurisdiction) Act, Section 14 (1); The Penal Code, Sections 4, 15, 33 and 91 and The Adoption of Children Act, Section 17.

Minister Griffin said Part One (Sections 3-9) of the legislation, which speaks to the Rights of the Child, are new provisions that address the rights of children as primarily set out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

She said Section 4 (c) speaks specifically to children enjoying these rights subject to any reservations made by The Bahamas and with appropriate modifications to suit legal and other circumstances that may exist.

"In keeping with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Part One administrates the principle guidelines a Court should heed in proceedings involving a child; contents of the parental responsibility; the duty to children with disabilities and the spheres of employment in which children should be engaged.

"It clearly sets out the guiding principle to be used in the upbringing of a child or the administration of a child's property, or the application of any income arising from it," Minister Griffin said. "That guiding principle is that the child's welfare shall be of paramount consideration. Everything else hinges on this principle."

Minister Griffin said during the many public consultations on the legislation, it was revealed that there was some "discontent" with the original wording of parental responsibility in Section 6 (1) as it was felt to be discriminatory to the fathers of children born out of wedlock.

She said the section was subsequently reworded and foreshadowed an amendment to the Section that reads: "Every parent shall have parental responsibility for his or her child but a Court may, if it deems just, disregard any rights arising therefrom unless that parent has addressed the criteria referred to in Section 14 (2)."

"This will require an amendment to Section 14 (2), hence I propose to move an amendment to replace the existing provision by the following: ‘A Court shall, when considering the issue of custody or access, have regard to the past contribution of the parent to the care, maintenance and upbringing of the child'," Minister Griffin said.

Minister Griffin said the legislation also speaks to Legal Capacity and Guardianship of Children (Part II, sections 10-20); Custody (Part III, Sections 21-32); Family Maintenance (Part IV, Sections 33-36); Proceedings to Enforce Right to Maintenance (Part V, Sections 37-61) and the Care and Protection of Children (Part VI, Sections 62-87).

The legislation will also speaks to Approved Children's Homes (Part VII, Sections 88-95); the Establishment of a National Committee for Families and Children (Part VIII, Sections 96-98); Proceedings Involving Children (Part IX, Sections 99-104); Representation and Monitoring of Children in Need of Care and Protection (Part X, Sections 105-108); Children Detained or Brought Before a Court (Part XI, Sections 109-115); Juvenile Courts (Part XII, Sections 116-133) and Places of Detention (Part XIII, Sections 134-148).

At least it'll be in the lawbooks.....that's probably as far is it will go.

At least it'll be in the lawbooks.....that's probably as far is it will go.

Yeah at least

At least it'll be in the lawbooks.....that's probably as far is it will go.


That's a great attitude. :tup:

At least it'll be in the lawbooks.....that's probably as far is it will go.


Wow bro.....
What high hopes you have.
:)

It is one thing to pass new laws, it is another thing to enforce said laws.

Questions: Who will be responsible for enforcing the legislation? What would the punishments be for breeching these laws? What about the children....are they going to be opening new or expanding children' s homes to accommodate the children whos parents are going to be (perhaps jailed) punished for breaking said laws?

Ok it says somewhere in there that they will establish a National Committee for Families and Children or something like that.

Questions: What would this committee do? I honestly dont understand why we have these type of committees. What exactly are their purpose? Additionally are they paid? By whom and how much?

Questions: Will there be some screening process or some criteria (other than political affiliation or popularity) used to determine who will sit on said committees? Will the persons asked to serve actually have some background in the area the committee is suppose to address or will we have persons like Randy Fraser looking after the well being of our children? (If that is indeed what this committee will be responsible for)

It is one thing to pass new laws, it is another thing to enforce said laws.
Questions: Who will be responsible for enforcing the legislation? What would the punishments be for breeching these laws? What about the children....are they going to be opening new or expanding children' s homes to accommodate the children whos parents are going to be (perhaps jailed) punished for breaking said laws?
Ok it says somewhere in there that they will establish a National Committee for Families and Children or something like that.
Questions: What would this committee do? I honestly dont understand why we have these type of committees. What exactly are their purpose? Additionally are they paid? By whom and how much?
Questions: Will there be some screening process or some criteria (other than political affiliation or popularity) used to determine who will sit on said committees? Will the persons asked to serve actually have some background in the area the committee is suppose to address or will we have persons like Randy Fraser looking after the well being of our children? (If that is indeed what this committee will be responsible for)


Do you think that these questions will be answered on here? Call Social Services and ask these questions. I am sure that if they have the time during their hectic day someone will answer your questions. Or perhaps you could go by the Government printing department and see if a copy of the bill is available, or see if it is available online. If all those things are too much trouble then I guess you will have to wait to read what you want to know in the papers.

It is one thing to pass new laws, it is another thing to enforce said laws.
Questions: Who will be responsible for enforcing the legislation? What would the punishments be for breeching these laws? What about the children....are they going to be opening new or expanding children' s homes to accommodate the children whos parents are going to be (perhaps jailed) punished for breaking said laws?
[QUOTE=lynette]

Good Question. We would obviously have to expand Social Services to include more trained case workers casue I am sure that they are overwhelmed presently. As far as punishment, that to me is where all the headache comes in. Most of the Bahmian family's are entirely insular. Getting them to admit and report abuse is the hardest hurdle it would seem in this whole process. The courts are already inundated with cases. Family Court will have to be strenghtened with efficient people.

[QUOTE=lynette]
Ok it says somewhere in there that they will establish a National Committee for Families and Children or something like that.
Questions: What would this committee do? I honestly dont understand why we have these type of committees. What exactly are their purpose? Additionally are they paid? By whom and how much?
[QUOTE=lynette]
[QUOTE=lynette]
Questions: Will there be some screening process or some criteria (other than political affiliation or popularity) used to determine who will sit on said committees? Will the persons asked to serve actually have some background in the area the committee is suppose to address or will we have persons like Randy Fraser looking after the well being of our children? (If that is indeed what this committee will be responsible for)

Whenever I hear Committee or Commission I be ready to throw my hands in da air maself. I read the Bahamas Gazettes periodically and to be honest the same names occur quite often throughout the many Commission's and ting. But I was told that most of them are unpaid positions. Particularly they consider that national service.

But I share ya same concerns. I do say good on Min. Griffen for actually making the strong stance.

Do you think that these questions will be answered on here? Call Social Services and ask these questions. I am sure that if they have the time during their hectic day someone will answer your questions. Or perhaps you could go by the Government printing department and see if a copy of the bill is available, or see if it is available online. If all those things are too much trouble then I guess you will have to wait to read what you want to know in the papers.


You are right when you say they have a hetic day and may not be able to answer.
Getting a copy of the bill will not answer all of the questions I posed. The bill will detail the legislation not the 'spin off' (if you will). Sure it will say what the punishment will be but perhaps not what will happen to the kids. But we shall see.

No doubt child protection legislation needed to be beefed up, but how clear and serious a message are you sending to sex offenders when the Bill only levies a $5000 fine on those who commit sex crimes against children?

Is that all a child's soul and body is worth? 5 grand? That fine is grossly minimal when considering the crime involved. I hope the government reviews and changes this penalty.

People get higher fines than that for much lesser crimes than raping a child man, come on.

I would have thought that child sex offenders would be subject to the fullest brunt of the law they could get. Certainly that cant possibly equate to 5 thousand dollars!

No doubt child protection legislation needed to be beefed up, but how clear and serious a message are you sending to sex offenders when the Bill only levies a $5000 fine on those who commit sex crimes against children?
Is that all a child's soul and body is worth? 5 grand? That fine is grossly minimal when considering the crime involved. I hope the government reviews and changes this penalty.
People get higher fines than that for much lesser crimes than raping a child man, come on.
I would have thought that child sex offenders would be subject to the fullest brunt of the law they could get. Certainly that cant possibly equate to 5 thousand dollars!


Actually some traffic fines are in that neighbourhood so I understand what you are saying. Personally I don't think that there should even be the consideration of a fine for a sex offender. They should get jail time and lots of it.

Actually some traffic fines are in that neighbourhood so I understand what you are saying. Personally I don't think that there should even be the consideration of a fine for a sex offender. They should get jail time and lots of it.

I agree. Because if all I have to do is pay a fine and I am a person of means...you get my drift. Jail time and lots of it mixed with some other painful stuff - sounds about right to me!

I don't think that there should even be the consideration of a fine for a sex offender.
right you are,if the law is applied by the law of the land,rape be it of an adult or child is a capital offense and should be handle as such,NO BAIL,NO FINEthe offender is a threat 2 public safety the same as murderers and kidnappers.:hammer:

the Bill only levies a $5000 fine on those who commit sex crimes against children?
is this in Melanie's CPA Nationbuilder?