Rahael shocked

HEALTH Minister John Rahael, reacting to the brutal torture, rape, buggery and murder of four-year-old Emily Anamanthodo, told Newsday Trinidad and Tobago society was not “serious enough” in dealing with the issue of child abuse.

He also chastised the lack of intervention by persons aware of physical and mental abuse of children. He added that this lack of intervention says something about the “society in which we live.”

Anamanthodo’s lifeless body was found by a relative on a bed at the child’s Marabella home on Monday night. Her body was covered in cigarette burns and she was later pronounced dead at San Fernando General Hospital.

Her brutal abuse and death have shocked and outraged the nation. Rahael made his feelings known as he spoke to the media following a sod turning ceremony for the Oxford Street Enhanced Health Centre yesterday.

“We are a fun-loving easy-going people but I think sometimes, we are not serious enough about many issues that we are supposed to be serious about.

“Community and family life in Trinidad and Tobago is unfortunately not as it used to be and that is something as a Government and people, we have to look at,” Rahael said.

Rahael said many people knew of Anamanthodo’s abuse — including persons who lived in the child’s community — and the incident was “heart-breaking.”

“So many people knew and yet we allowed it to happen. It says a lot for this society and the people of this country,” said the Minister who is no stranger to pain having been touched by the crime scourge in the country with the brutal murder of his relative Dr Eddie Koury, last year.

Giving his views on a report of an alleged drug ring operating at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, Rahael said he was awaiting the findings of the police investigations before deciding on what course of action (if any) would be taken.