Two probation officers attached to the Childcare and Protection Agency of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security have been dismissed following a viral video that showed them dragging a uniformed schoolgirl through the Stabroek minibus park.
The officers were fired approximately six weeks after the incident, according to a source who spoke to Kaieteur News on condition of anonymity. The source said a tribunal was established to investigate the matter and that the dismissals followed the conclusion of that probe.
“We are protecting children. The ministry took action in keeping with the protection of children,” the source said, adding that it would be unethical to allow individuals who abuse children to continue working with them. “We have a zero tolerance for abuse. The ministry gets flagged for many things but it is very serious about abuse cases. We would in no way condone abuse,” the source said.
The ministry has not publicly released information about the dismissals, and the reason for that silence remains unclear.
The incident was captured on video and spread widely on social media, showing the two officers dragging the girl — who was dressed in her school uniform — with one officer gripping her by the hair. Bystanders at the bus park were heard loudly objecting to the treatment of the child.
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, subsequently confirmed in a Facebook post that the matter was brought to her attention and that immediate action was taken. She described the footage as appalling and announced that both officers were suspended with immediate effect and that the Guyana Police Force had been called in to take further action.
“They will be held accountable for their conduct which run counter to the values and operational procedures of the Child Protection Agency,” Persaud had stated, reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to child protection. “Incidents such as this cannot and will not be tolerated,” she added.
