Minister of Social Services and Community Development, the Hon. Melanie Griffin (centre) with students of the Pirate's Well Primary School. (BIS Photo/Matt Maura)
Minister of Social Services and Community Development, the Hon. Melanie Sharon Griffin arrived in Pirate’s Well Friday for a three-day visit.
Minister Griffin was accompanied by Mrs. Phedra Rahming, Under Secretary, Ministry of Social Services and Community Development; Mrs. Lillian Quant-Forbes, Senior Deputy Director, Department of Social Services, Ministry of Social Services and Community Development; and Miss Tiffany Simms, Case Aide, Department of Social Services, Ministry of Social Services and Community Development.
The delegation kicked off a busy weekend with visits to the Pirate’s Well Primary School and the Abraham’s Bay High School, meeting with students, staff and administrators of both schools.
Mayaguana is home to an estimated 300 Bahamians.
Minister Griffin was scheduled to address a Town Hall Meeting for clients of the Department of Social Services and other residents Friday night, September 9, to “sensitize them about the services the Department offers.”
The Minister is also expected to drive through the island, meeting with residents -- including the island’s elderly community.
Mrs. Griffin told students of the Pirate’s Well Primary School that the delegation’s visit to Mayaguana was in line with the Government of The Bahamas’ vision to ensure that every Bahamian has access to as many of the critical Government services as possible, regardless of their geographical location.
Students or the Pirates Well's Primary School listen attentively as Minister of Social Services and Community Development the Hon. Melanie Griffin addressed them Friday. (BIS Photo/Matt Maura)
“I am delighted to be here with you this morning as the Minister of Social Services and Community Development to be able to speak with you,” Mrs. Griffin said. “As the Minister of Social Services and Community Development, I am responsible for children – all of the children throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas belong to me.
“My team and I are supposed to help your parents, your teachers, to take care of you and ensure that everything is going well with you and that we assist your parents in providing basic needs – such as food, shelter, clothing – when there is a need.”
Mrs. Griffin also took the opportunity to address the various forms of abuse with the students of Pirate’s Wells Primary School, telling the students that whenever they are abused, they should tell “a trusted adult.”
“We (the team at the Ministry of Social Services and Community Development and the Department of Social Services) are here to provide for your protection and your protection meaning that no one is allowed to hurt you; no one is allowed to call you names to make you feel bad about yourselves (particularly adults); no one is allowed to touch you on certain parts of your bodies,” Mrs. Griffin said.
“If somebody touches you in a bad way, you have to report it to a responsible adult. First of all tell your mummy or your daddy, your teachers or the Police. We are here to protect you.
“We are also here to tell you we love you and that we care for you and that is why the Government ensures that whatever we need to assist you in growing up to become young adults, that we have it, so that you can grow up to be productive citizens of this country.”
Minister Griffin told the students that parents and teachers are allowed to discipline children/students on some occasions.
“But they are not to do it in a way where you are abused by it by beating you over your head or over your back because that is physical abuse. Whenever that is being done on an ongoing basis you are able to report it to a responsible adult, and Social Services are also here to protect you,” Mrs. Griffin said.
By Matt Maura
Bahamas Information Services
