Minister of Social and Urban Transformation Rawdon Turner has declared that Antigua and Barbuda is “failing its children,” following public outrage over the sentencing of a 56-year-old man convicted of sexually abusing his five-year-old great-niece.

In a strongly worded Facebook statement, Turner said the three-and-a-half-year prison sentence handed down in the case has raised serious concerns about whether existing laws adequately reflect the severity of sexual crimes against children.

The minister said he was deeply disturbed and angered after reading the report, noting that while the judiciary must operate within the legal framework provided by Parliament, lawmakers themselves must now examine whether that framework is fit for purpose.

He cautioned against blaming judges individually, but stressed that repeated public concern over relatively short sentences in child sexual abuse cases cannot be ignored. According to Turner, such cases highlight a potential disconnect between legal outcomes and the lifelong trauma suffered by victims.

Turner pointed to data from the Family and Social Services Division, which has recorded more than 105 reports of child abuse so far this year. He said each case represents a child whose safety and wellbeing has been compromised, not merely a statistic.

The minister called for an urgent review of sentencing laws for offences against children, including the possible introduction of tougher penalties, reforms to sentencing guidelines, and a broader national discussion on how the justice system handles such cases.

He said Parliament, the legal profession, and social institutions all have a responsibility to ensure that child protection is given the highest priority within the justice system.

Turner added that a child victim does not serve a short prison sentence, but instead carries lifelong emotional and psychological consequences.