Minister Rawdon Turner speaking on ABS
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
Dear Mr Turner,
Who introduced 1000s of immigrants into our communities with a lax immigration system, that effectively destroyed the communities?
Who continue to sustain a lax immigration system that causes people in the communities not to know each other?
Who did not invest in the community’s infrastructure, cleanliness, social programs, uplifting, and growth?
MR TURNER YOU ARE THE PROBLEM. YOU ARE THE CAUSE. YOU CREATED IT. YOU ARE REPORTING ON YOUR STEWARDSHIP.
What an ignorant and racist comment. This is not helping raise awareness of the crisis being experienced by children within the community at large.
Child abuse is not a political agenda item. Shame on you.
That is 199 cases too many. We need to tighten the laws for children abuse
Praying they come up with a solution real soon and hoping they don’t forget therapy for those children. Prayer and therapy are the only way they could properly heal from this trauma.
Reading this honestly breaks my heart. More than 200 children suffering in silence is not just a statistic, it is 200 lives forever affected. As a society, we need to do better. Parents, relatives, neighbours, teachers every one of us has a role to play in protecting our children. No child should ever have to live in fear. 💔
200 reported cases, and they’re saying many more go unreported? Antigua and Barbuda needs a serious national response to this crisis. The laws must be tougher, the reporting systems stronger, and communities need to stop turning a blind eye. Too many people know what is happening and stay quiet. Enough is enough. Our children deserve better.
Man, this one hit hard. Two hundred cases is way too much for a small country like ours, and that’s only the ones they know about. We really have to stop covering up these things and start protecting the children first. Every child deserves to feel safe in their own home. This is everybody business now, not just the government alone. 🙏🏽