Calls for Minister’s resignation and Premier to enforce it!
by Bennette Roach
Premier Reuben Meade and Hon. Colin Riley
By Monday, August 20, 2012, the internet lighted up with a suggestion of, and eventually a question of complicity by the Honourable Minister of Education, Health and Community Services and Sports, Colin Riley in a reported case of sexual assault.
The alleged assault on a two-year-old girl, reportedly occurred on Thursday, August 16, 2012 and was reported to the Royal Montserrat Police Services (RMPS) who processed a 12-year-old boy through the Magistrate’s Court that cleared him available to travel. This cleared the way for the child to travel with an Under-13 cricket team under the management and supervision of the Minister of Sports, Colin Riley, who while on his vacation, assisted in the preparation of the team and undertook management of the team to participate in a WICB sponsored ‘grassroots’ Under-13 tournament in St. Kitts-Nevis.
Under 13 cricketers
Early Saturday evening, Editor of The Montserrat Reporter received information on the alleged assault and concern by the victim’s family on the process that allowed the accused minor to travel out of the island.
Later that evening at the Ferry port where the Under-13 team prepared to depart for St. Kitts-Nevis, the minister confirmed his knowledge from the police of the alleged assault. The minister informed that he was invited to the court. He confirmed talking with the both families over the matter and said that he was under obligation to ensure that the minor appear in court on September 14, where the matter will be processed further.
The RMPS confirmed the report and that the matter is still being investigated; that the matter is one that will involve the Ministry of Community Services, and that such matters involving minors get treated in careful, specific and particular way.
There was furor following a questionable report that was eventually replaced on the internet, against Minister Riley for allowing the accused boy to travel to St. Kitts with the cricket team. The report changed its tenor, “…a question to consider is whether Riley may in fact have dishonoured his office by appearing to be complicit in the sexual abuse of a minor?”
Comments resulting from the report called on the Minister to resign, also calling on Premier Meade to take strong actions with accusations of one kind and another.
Premier Meade after refusing to respond to a request for comment on the obviously misinformed comments on the internet, issued the following statement in which he noted that such matters have guidelines as to how they are processed. “Montserrat has adopted child safety protocols as outlined in the booklet ‘Safeguarding Children and Young People in Montserrat’ produced by the Ministry for Health and Social Services, which are being followed,” the Premier said, confirming, “The matter is being handled in the prescribed manner by the appropriate agencies.”
The Montserrat Cricket Association reportedly reacting to the matter unfamiliar to them had directed that the youngster should not take the field to represent Montserrat in the tournament.
More reports of alleged sexual assaults between minors
The RMPS follow up late in the week with report of investigations surrounding the alleged sexual assault of a five-year-old girl by two boys ages 13 and 14. The RMPS say it is working with the department of Social Services on the allegations incident and reports have been passed to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for further advice on the matter.
