By Mark DaCosta- The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, headed by Dr. Vindhya Persaud, is facing renewed scrutiny amid growing concerns about the effectiveness of Guyana’s child protection system.
The We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party has called for accountability following a letter by Ann Greene, former Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), published in Stabroek News, which highlighted potential failures in safeguarding vulnerable minors, particularly teenage mothers. Greene’s intervention has reignited public debate about the state of social services and the mechanisms designed to protect at-risk children.
WIN argues that ultimate responsibility rests with the Ministry to ensure the country’s protective framework functions effectively. The party said Greene’s concerns suggest deeper structural issues within agencies responsible for welfare and protection.
The scrutiny comes against the backdrop of troubling cases involving teenage mothers. Tiana Chapman, a 15-year-old from East Bank Berbice, is currently fighting for her life in hospital after she was stabbed 25 times by the father of her child. In another case, Aleena Preetam, a 14-year-old from Good Hope on the Essequibo Coast, died about one month after giving birth to her baby. She was found unresponsive at home after relatives became alarmed by the sound of her infant crying continuously and was later pronounced dead at hospital. A post-mortem examination determined that she died from heart failure and anaemia, and investigations were launched into the circumstances surrounding her pregnancy and death.
At the centre of the concerns raised by WIN is the revelation that two teenage mothers reportedly gave birth at a public hospital without any structured follow-up from child protection authorities. The party contends that such situations point to significant lapses in the system, noting that when poverty, abuse risks, and teenage pregnancy intersect, intervention should be automatic and comprehensive.
The party also linked the issue to wider concerns raised in recent months, including what it described as inadequate responses to domestic violence, overburdened social workers, and delays in registering eligible persons for disability grants. According to WIN, Greene’s observations suggest these challenges may not be isolated incidents but indicators of broader systemic weaknesses.
Greene’s comments carry particular weight given her professional background. As a former head of the CPA, she has direct experience with the country’s child welfare system, and her warning has been viewed by some observers as a sign that the agency may be struggling with operational pressures that could affect its ability to respond effectively to vulnerable cases.
WIN has called for an independent operational review of both the CPA and the Probation and Social Services Department. The party is also urging public disclosure of protocols governing child protection responses in cases involving teenage mothers and other high-risk minors.
Additionally, WIN is seeking a status report on disability grant backlogs and domestic violence case processing times, along with a corrective action plan that includes measurable timelines for reform. The party said the matter should be treated as one of governance and accountability rather than partisan politics.
The issue has surfaced amid broader concerns about accountability within public institutions. Citizens have long complained about bureaucratic delays and what some perceive as reactive rather than proactive responses from social services agencies.
Greene’s letter has amplified those concerns, highlighting the critical importance of a functioning child protection system. Observers note that the controversy underscores the need for robust oversight and effective coordination within the agencies tasked with safeguarding vulnerable children.
WIN has indicated that it may pursue parliamentary and public accountability measures if the Ministry does not respond decisively. Whether the government introduces reforms or addresses the concerns raised remains to be seen, but the debate has placed renewed attention on the capacity of the country’s child protection framework and the responsibility of the Ministry to ensure it functions effectively.
