More Than 200 Child Abuse Cases Reported So Far This Year, Minister Turner Reveals

More than 200 cases of child abuse have been reported in Antigua and Barbuda since the start of 2026, according to Minister of Social and Urban Transformation Hon. Rawdon Turner.

Turner disclosed during an interview on State Media Tuesday morning, hours before the Ministry hosts its first National Child Protection Town Hall Meeting.

The minister said the reported cases involve both sexual and physical abuse, warning that the true extent of the problem could be significantly greater.

“Professionals have indicated that for every case that is reported, there are three cases that go unreported,” Turner said.

He described the figures as shocking and said the public may not fully understand the scale of abuse taking place across the country.

“You would see headlines in the newspaper or you may see Facebook posts over time, and you believe that you have an idea of what is taking place in terms of the abuse of our children in Antigua and Barbuda. But I can say that the public doesn’t know. We don’t understand,” he said.

Turner said child abuse has become a deeply rooted problem within households and communities, with some perpetrators being fathers, uncles and close family friends.

“I can remember growing up in my community, you would always hear the phrase that the village raises a child. But we’re at the point now where the village is abusing our children,” he declared.

The minister said Family and Social Services officers are frequently called out late at night to assist the police in removing children from dangerous and abusive homes.

According to Turner, the emotional burden of handling such cases is also taking a toll on social workers and counsellors.

“They’ve said to me, ‘Minister, we’re exhausted. We’re at the point now that we ourselves as counsellors need counselling because of the cases we’re exposed to,’” he revealed.

Turner recounted cases in which children were found malnourished, tied to beds and bearing scars from physical abuse. He also highlighted the case of a seven-year-old girl whose mother initially refused to believe that her boyfriend was sexually abusing the child.

The mother reportedly accepted what had happened only after doctors examined the girl at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre.

All this comes as Legislation establishing minimum prison terms for serious firearm offences and sexual crimes against children is being prepared for Parliament