Constable Yvette Graham of the Santa Cruz Police Station believes that St Elizabeth is facing a moral crisis as sexual child abuse and paedophilia, she says, are rampant in the parish.

But while persons with information are gradually coming forward, many have chosen to remain silent.

“Since this [incident] came out, I have been receiving several calls [more than 10] and hints about similar and even worse cases taking place in the parish,” Graham tells the Sunday Observer. “We need people to start coming forward and stop covering up these things. It is so bad that if we are to tackle all of the cases, we would need an office where we can properly interview people and conduct the necessary investigations.”

While she was unable to provide figures, Graham describes the situation as frightening, noting that she has heard of very young girls, some as young as 13, being impregnated by older men, while their parents, particularly the mothers, turn a blind eye. There has even been talk of fathers having sexual relations with their daughters.

“It really is widespread in the parish and it is just disgusting and terrible. These things are taking place in several communities in the parish and people are denying it,” says Graham. “If I were to walk with you along the main street in the town, I could point out girls who are being touched by these older men, some taxi operators, and their parents hide it. Sometimes you even see their little pregnant bellies.

“A major part of the problem is that guidance counsellors and teachers in some of the schools find out about it and refuse to report it to the police.”

She noted that residents in the adjoining parish of Manchester are more vigilant and are willing to make reports to the police. Graham is urging parents and residents in general, in St Elizabeth, to start taking their roles more seriously.

“It is just a frightful example of some of the things that our girls and boys go through, especially when parents want to get rid of their responsibilities and expenses early in the child’s life,” she says. “To think that some parents are actually agreeing to something like this makes you really wonder. We need to start thinking about the welfare of our children and our future generations.”

At the same time, she hopes that soon, the police in the parish and islandwide will have the resources to properly tackle these issues and bring the perpetrators to justice.