HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC):
THE NUMBER of children of school age giving birth has tripled in Bermuda, according to a new government report.
The increase in the number of babies born to girls under the legal age of 16 rose from four in 2003 to 12 in 2004, according to the annual report of the Registrar General for last year, which was tabled in the House of Assembly over the weekend.
BIG CONCERN
"This is children having children," Coalition for the Protection of Children Chairman Sheelagh Cooper said later.
Cooper said not enough was being done to punish men who were committing statutory rape: "It is a big concern. This represents a major crime with a punishment of a significant prison term. It is obvious to all concerned when a child gives birth that someone has broken the law and it is extremely rare when you find anyone being prosecuted. What is the point of the legislation if they do not follow it up? These little girls are very vulnerable."
According to the report, the number of pregnancies for girls under 16 increased substantially over four years with one birth in 2000, three in 2001, three in 2002, four in 2003 and 12 in 2004.
Pregnancies of unmarried girls between 16 to 19 years have also increased steadily from 41 in 2000 to 73 last year.
The annual report showed that there were 549 babies born to married women and 287 born out of wedlock in 2004.
FIVE-YEAR-TREND
The overall number of births in Bermuda between 2003 and 2004 was virtually the same, the report said, with 836 births in 2003 and 834 births in 2004.
Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Randy Horton said the number was in keeping with the trend of the last five years.
The report also said Bermuda's estimated resident population was 63,525 in 2003 and 63,955 in 2004.
