Disturbing news has been received from the San Pedro Police Department that two minors have reported sexual assault by adult individuals in two separate incidents. The first case involves a five year old student. The San Pedro Sun spoke with the mother of the minor, who explained to us what happened.
The mother, a long time resident and single mother of San Pedro discovered that her child was being sexually molested in December of 2011. “My baby tell me on Christmas day. We went to eat at a restaurant then suddenly she tell me she want to use the bathroom. Well I left her inside and I stand outside, then suddenly my baby yell to me – “I mami mami – ai ai – secame secame, me duele donde […] me toca.”
The mother went on to disclose; “I hurry open the door and went inside and ask her why, what di hurt her and she showed me. I couldn’t believe what my baby tell me I was so pissed off so I gone search my baby and I saw how her private area was. It was all red, red red and she tell me that he scratch her only at the top part not at the bottom part. We stop eat and came back to my house and I asked her what happened. She said that it wasn’t the first time that he do it to her and that he tell my baby not to tell me cause he will lash my baby. That’s why my baby neva tell me nothing what was happening until it was hurting.”
The situation is as follows: The mother, a full time career person and a single mother had acquired the services of the perpetrator’s wife as a babysitter. The child was in the care of the perpetrator and his wife between the hours of 5:45AM and 7PM. The babysitter was responsible for the care of the child as well as dropping the child off to school and picking her up after school. As both babysitter and husband are well known individuals in San Pedro, she never suspected that something like this would be happening to her child while in their care.
The mother went on to state that she was confused as to what to do. She was angry, but very scared. She ceased taking the child to the baby sitter but was hesitant to place a formal report. “I didn’t take her to a doctor cause I neva want no kind of a trouble, because da fu him family dem big and on this island its only me and my baby that’s why I neva did nothing. I had to think it twice before I go and do a report.”
It wasn’t until January 13th after the outpour of support from friends and acquaintances that became aware of the situation that she decided to go and file a report. She is upset that it took her this long to make a decision but now she is steadfast in her decision and in seeing justice come to this individual that took advantage of her child’s innocence. In her eyes, justice would be; “Mek them send him to Hattieville.”
According to San Pedro Police, on Monday January 15th a 50-year-old Belizean Taxi Driver of a DFC Area address was arrested and charged for the crime of Aggravated Assault against a Minor. The individual appeared in the Magistrates Court on Tuesday, January 16th where he was offered and met bail. His name is being withheld by the San Pedro Police Department, pending court trial.
The San Pedro Sun was unable to contact Adan Kay, Social Worker for Belize Rural South. However, we contacted Judith Alpuche, of the Department of Human Services in Belize to find out whether the department was aware of the situation. Alpuche informed The San Pedro Sun that they were unaware of the situation, however, that they would be contacting Kay, to follow up on the situation.
Further to this, she informed The San Pedro Sun that in cases such as this one, where the mother is advocating on behalf of her child, the department of Human Services works to provide support to the parent and the child as well as work in conjunction with the Police Department to assure their safety. While the five year old seems to be adjusting very well and almost appears to be unaware of exactly what has transpired, there remains concern that no one has been contacted to provide any sort of counseling to the child or the mother.
Other than confirming that a second individual, a 47-year-old Belizean has been charged for a similar crime in the San Pedro Magistrates Court this week, The San Pedro Sun was unable to secure the details of this case. We will continue to follow both cases and report on them as the information becomes available.
