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.
On Friday, the child’s father, 45-year-old Bharrat Jaikarran, appeared before Magistrate Shareefah Parks at the Weldaad Magistrate’s Court, charged with murder. He was remanded to prison until Nov. 12.
Police have also been investigating the alleged involvement of another man in the child’s death.
In another tragedy, Donette Albert and her three-year-old son, Keron Latchman, died in a fire that destroyed their wooden home at David James Housing Scheme, Charity, Essequibo Coast, on Oct. 19.
According to police reports, Albert and her common-law partner were allegedly involved in an argument before the fire. The man was subsequently taken into police custody as investigators sought to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Authorities have not conclusively established the cause of the fire or criminal responsibility for the deaths.
These incidents are among several cases of violence involving children reported this year.
In June, seven-year-old Adriel Aftab Mohamed was killed during an attack at his family’s home in Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo. His 72-year-old great-grandmother was also injured in the attack, and police subsequently arrested a suspect.
Other reported killings include seven-year-old Isabella Dabadial of Fyrish, Corentyne, in April, and six-year-old Zi Feng Cao of Parika in September.
More recently, 17-year-old Toisha Andrews was fatally shot in Linden on Oct. 12, while 17-year-old Akeem Bannister was stabbed to death at Westminster, La Parfaite Harmonie, on Oct. 18.