The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT – Officials at the Department of Social Services in Grand Bahama have seen an increase in child sexual abuse, especially during the month of August when many children are not in school.

In 2013, there have been some 31 known reported cases of child sexual abuse on Grand Bahama.

Paula Marshall, assistant director, reported that children as young as one-and-a -half were being referred for sexual abuse.

“We are quite concerned about the lower age limit of the children being referred (to us,)” she said.

Ms Marshall said statistics for 2013 are compiled from referrals that are made to the Department of Social Services in Grand Bahama.

Additionally, she said, there were some 35 known cases of physical abuse; 84 known cases of children neglected and abandonment; 11 reported cases of verbal abuse; five reported cases of emotional abuse; and one reported case of child endangerment.

Ms Marshall said they have observed a peak in the incidents of sexual abuse in August.

“We find that we have peak sexual abuse cases in August when most summer activities have slowed down on the island,” she said.

She noted that during the month of July many children are away at camp.

“By August everything has come to a stop, and parents are still at work and children are left with different persons, visiting relatives, or sent to the Family Island,” she said.

“I think that more church groups and other organisations should have summer camps in August as opposed to everything happening in July.”

Ms Marshall noted that most physical abuse cases are reported during the month of January. She said they have received referrals for children from ages three months.

“This follows activities in December during the Christmas season when persons are busy and overextending themselves to the point where frustration levels are high,” she said.

The executive was also disturbed by the verbal and emotional abuse to children by their parents.

She said that children can suffer psychological and emotional scarring as a result of continuing verbal abuse.