Child safety task force excludes key voices — Charles Sugrim — Opinion

Child safety task force excludes key voices

October 25, 2026·2 min read

Dear Editor,

I noted a press release from President Irfaan Ali’s office notifying the public that he met on October 23, 2026, with a “Broad-based Task Force to develop Comprehensive Recommendations and Actions to Address the Welfare and Safety of Children.”^[1] While this is a good idea, why now? This child is not the first child allegedly murdered during his tenure as President. But let us assume Irfaan Ali finally woke up — did he or his staff realize the press release contradicts its own stated purpose?

The release says the approach “must include parents, the Government, the school system, the social and religious organizations, law enforcement, the Judiciary, and every other important stakeholder.”

Yet the meeting itself convened representatives from Government, the Judiciary, the Speaker of the National Assembly, constitutional commissions, law enforcement, and civil society.^[2]

Notice who is named as essential but absent from the room: the children themselves; actual parents of children from the most affected Regions (3, 4, 5, 6 and 10); the teachers’ union, the GTU; actual educators from the most affected Regions; religious organizations from the most affected Regions and from the villages directly affected over the last six years; child protection specialists such as ChildLink and Blossom Inc.; mental health professionals such as Dr. Bhiro Harry and the mental health doctors from Berbice; the women’s representative from the Amerindian community; the three women Members of Parliament from the political opposition; the senior probation officers who work with Minister Vindhya Persaud; a sprinkling of headteachers from the most affected Regions; and representative members of the NDCs in the most affected Regions.

If you are going to fix a broken system, then you must do it right at the first effort. The task force is to be coordinated by the Attorney General and composed of government, the judiciary, law enforcement, religious organizations, and civil society. Again, the constituencies the document calls indispensable — parents, educators, frontline child-welfare workers, the political opposition and young people — have no stated seat at the table.

This is not a trivial omission. A task force on children’s safety that excludes children, teachers, and parent bodies risks producing recommendations that are legally and institutionally tidy but socially disconnected from the lived reality it claims to address. The release announces a “broad-based” task force while describing a narrow, state-centered convening. Same story in Irfaan Ali’s Guyana, different day. This body is nothing else but more rhetoric.

Sincerely,
Charles Sugrim

References

President Ali establishes broad-based task force to address children’s safety, welfare and mental health – News Hub Guyana

newshub.gy · 2026-10-24

President Ali establishes broad-based task force to address children’s safety, welfare and mental health – News Hub Guyana # President Ali establishes broad-based task force to address children’s safety, welfare and mental health October 24, 2026 President Dr. Irfaan Ali has directed the establishment of a broad-based, interagency task force to develop comprehensive recommendations and coordinated actions to address growing concerns about the safety, welfare and mental health of children across Guyana. The directive followed a high-level consultative meeting Friday afternoon involving representatives of the government, judiciary, National Assembly, constitutional commissions, law enforcement agencies and civil society organizations. The engagement examined several critical issues affecting children and the urgent need for a coordinated national response to challenges threatening their well-being, development and safety. Against the backdrop of recent incidents involving children, participants agreed that immediate and decisive interventions are necessary to address the underlying social, behavioral and institutional factors contributing to the situation. The discussions emphasized that protecting children must be a collective national responsibility, requiring active participation from parents, schools, religious and community organizations, law enforcement agencies, the judiciary and other stakeholders. Among the priority areas identified were expanded public education and awareness campaigns, stronger parental support systems, improved school-based interventions, greater access to psychosocial and mental health services, and structured mentorship programs for children and adolescents. Participants also examined the importance of promoting healthy recreational activities and positive social engagement while addressing the influence of social media, music and other forms of content on children’s behavior and development. The meeting further considered the need to review existing legislation, strengthen law enforcement responses and examine possible adjustments to the administration of justice to ensure that the country’s legal and institutional frameworks adequately protect children. The proposed interventions are intended to address both immediate concerns and the broader social conditions affecting children, with an emphasis on prevention, early intervention, accountability and sustained support. To advance the initiative, President Ali directed the attorney general to coordinate the establishment of an interagency task force comprising representatives of the government, judiciary, law enforcement agencies, religious organizations, civil society and other relevant stakeholders. The task force will be responsible for developing a comprehensive national plan outlining recommendations, practical interventions and coordinated actions for consideration and implementation. The initiative signals a move toward a more integrated national approach to child protection, recognizing that legislation and enforcement alone cannot adequately address the complex challenges affecting young people. By bringing together institutions responsible for education, justice, social protection, public safety and community development, the administration intends to strengthen coordination and establish a framework for meaningful and sustained intervention. The president’s directive places particular emphasis on collective responsibility, with families, communities and national institutions expected to play complementary roles in creating safer, healthier and more supportive environments for Guyana’s children. The task force’s recommendations will be submitted for review and implementation as part of the government’s wider efforts to safeguard children and strengthen the systems responsible for their protection and well-being. ... The initiative follows several incidents involving children, including the killing of six-year-old Orlando Jaikarran, who was reported missing from his Bath Settlement home on Oct. 14. His partially decomposed and dismembered body was discovered in a canal at Waterloo, West Coast Berbice, on Oct. 20.

Source

Child safety task force excludes key voices in Kiskadee Watch, October 25, 2026

After recent child deaths, President Ali orders task force to recommend action on children’s safety - News Room Guyana

newsroom.gy · 2026-10-24

After recent child deaths, President Ali orders task force to recommend action on children’s safety - News Room Guyana # After recent child deaths, President Ali orders task force to recommend action on children’s safety October 24, 2026 President Irfaan Ali has directed the Attorney General to coordinate a multi-agency task force to develop recommendations aimed at improving the safety, welfare and mental health of children in Guyana, following a series of disturbing incidents involving young people. The decision was made during a consultative meeting on Friday involving representatives from Government, the Judiciary, the Speaker of the National Assembly, constitutional commissions, law enforcement agencies and civil society organisations. The proposed response is expected to go beyond law enforcement, addressing issues ranging from parenting and school environments to social media exposure, music, mental health support and the role of religious and community organisations. The announcement comes amid renewed public concern over the safety of children following several recent cases of child deaths, including the killing of six-year-old Orlando Jaikarran, whose body was found in a canal at Waterloo, West Coast Berbice. His father, Bharrat Jaikarran, was charged with murder and remanded to prison, while police investigations into the alleged involvement of another suspect continue. In announcing the task force, the President’s office said the meeting had agreed that immediate and coordinated action was needed, with responsibility extending across families, schools, Government, religious organisations, law enforcement and the wider society. Among the measures discussed were public education campaigns, greater parental support, school-based activities, psychosocial services, mentoring programmes and the promotion of healthy recreational activities for children. The discussions also included reviewing children’s exposure to music and social media, revising laws, reconsidering law enforcement approaches and examining aspects of the administration of justice. However, the announcement did not outline specific measures that will be introduced, identify a timeline for the task force to submit its recommendations or state when any proposed interventions would take effect. The Attorney General is expected to coordinate the group, which will include representatives from Government, the Judiciary, law enforcement, religious organisations, civil society and other relevant stakeholders. Its mandate is to develop a comprehensive plan of recommendations and actions for review and implementation. For families concerned about children’s safety, the challenge will be translating those recommendations into practical measures that can identify risks early, support vulnerable children and help prevent abuse and violence before they occur.