While the Tobago House of Assembly continues to support the search efforts for missing two-year-old Angelo Tobias-Plaza from Goodwood, THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine says as a nation, Trinidad and Tobago has to do better in protecting children.
Speaking at a Post Executive Media Briefing on Thursday, he said that while the news of the missing child is shocking and concerning, villagers also have a responsibility to help protect children.
“As a nation we have to do more to protect our children. I don’t think we do enough to protect our children and that cannot be just the government’s job. It must include the first social institution that we all know, which is the family. How do we protect our children? They are extremely vulnerable.”
Mr. Augustine pointed out that there are too many circumstances where villagers are knowledgeable about abuse within families but choose not to report it to the relevant authorities.
“Are we ensuring that they are protected? Are we doing what is necessary in terms of reporting people who are abusing our children, or are we keeping it secret?”
A multi-agency task force made up of various arms of law enforcement, together with the Tobago Emergency Management Agency, the Tobago Marine Safety and Security Services and Hunters Search and Rescue Team, continues search efforts.