EDITOR, The Tribune.

I write not merely to express outrage, but to confront the conscience of a society that continues to fail its most vulnerable—our children. Time and time again, we witness a familiar cycle: a horrific crime occurs, a child has been sexually abused, the headlines scream, the public reacts with fury and tears—then silence. We move on, bury the pain beneath hashtags, outraged voice notes, and candlelight vigils, and wait for the next tragedy. This pattern is not only disturbing—it is sickening.

Where is your heart, people? Where is your soul?

For years, experts and advocates have made countless appeals for adults to rise—not after the fact, but before. To get trained, to get educated, and to stand guard as stewards for the protection of children in The Bahamas. Yet the response has been lukewarm at best.

Many acts concerned when the news cycle demands it, but when it comes time to show up—through action, through training, through advocacy—you vanish. You hide behind convenience and excuses while children suffer in silence.

Let me be clear: Child Sexual Abuse is preventable. However, prevention requires proactive commitment, not reactive compassion. It requires courage, not convenience. The truth is, too many among us would rather perform sympathy than practice responsibility. And that reality is a shameful stain on our society.

The Holy Scriptures do not mince words on this matter. In Matthew 18:6, Jesus declares: “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

God’s judgment is clear for those who harm children—and I believe His judgment also rests upon those who refuse to protect them.

It is not enough to mourn when evil strikes—we must move before it does. Let this letter serve as both a warning and a wake-up call: Our children are watching. And they are waiting—for you to step up. To break the silence. To get trained. To take responsibility for the world we are shaping.

No more excuses. No more delay. If you claim to care, prove it. Become a steward of children, not just a spectator to their pain.

SHERVONNE CASH HOLLIS

Nassau,

June 27, 2025.