By Trudy Simpson, Staff ReporterJOHN JUNOR, the Health Minister, is not discounting the possibility of holding people to account for breaches in several of the island's children's homes and places of safety, but says the decision will rest on clarifications being sought from the review committee.
Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, Mr. Junor said the ministry had asked for dates and other details of abuse and other incidents to which the team refers in the report.
He said he would compare allegations with what actions were taken by the ministry and whether these were appropriate.
"When we match up the allegations with the actions we have taken so far, where there are shortcomings, whomsoever has to answer will have to answer. I am not attacking the report by any means. I am just saying we need some answers to those questions in order to be clear in dealing with everybody," Mr. Junor stressed, adding that the Child Development Agency (CDA) was established to deal with some of these problems.
SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES
The new agency, which replaces the Child Support Unit, and the Children's Services Division and will have administrative responsibility for the Adoption Board, was set up in April. The former CSD director, Winston Bowen, is now an adviser to CDA. The Gleaner was unable to ascertain immediately, how long Mr. Bowen had headed CSD, but it has been for more than a decade.
Asked about Mr. Bowen, Mr. Junor said, "He is no longer there. He is no longer head of the Children's Services area."
In December, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson ordered a probe of state care institutions. A four member committee began investigating in January following allegations of child abuse and other wrongdoings. Their findings and recommendations are set out in a report tabled in Parliament last week.
