Dear Editor,

The following is an open letter to ministers Olivia “Babsy” Grange and Floyd Green, as well as the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Children Abuse:

Of what use are laws when they are not enforced?

There is supposed to be a law on the books which speaks to the need for doctors and medical personnel to inform the police when a child has become pregnant and is in their care.

Recently, for the second time in recent months, I was awestruck by a media report.

The Amanda Alert system was established to alert the public about missing children.

Imagine my shock when, in both cases, minors were being reported missing along with their children.

In the most recent case it was a 16-year-old along with her four-month-old baby.

Regrettably, these are not isolated cases.A later news item revealed that a 21-year-old mother lost her six-year-old child in a car crash earlier this month. Obviously, she too conceived and gave birth before reaching the age of consent.

Unless these births and delivery took place in total secrecy, someone ought to be held responsible.

There was a case years ago when the mother of a pregnant child, when questioned as to why she had not reported the matter to the police, reportedly asked who would support the baby if the father was in prison.

Maybe it’s time to hold the mothers, doctors and medical personnel responsible.

Donald Plummer

damac@yahoo.com