Tuesday, June 10, 2025
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Chief Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Ministry of Social Services is reporting a disturbing rise in cases of mothers prostituting their daughters — some as young as 14 — in exchange for money to pay household bills, according to Minister Myles Laroda.
While no official statistics were provided, Mr Laroda said victims are typically between 14 and 16 years old.
“Lives are being destroyed before they begin to live them,” he said during his budget contribution in the House of Assembly on Thursday.
“While the age of consent is 16, using a minor for the sexual gratification of an adult constitutes prostitution and rape, which are criminal offences and should be reported to the police.”
He urged anyone with knowledge of such cases to contact the ministry’s hotline at 711 or report the matter to police.
He also highlighted a series of other troubling trends, including a rise in juvenile delinquency, primarily driven by serious behavioural issues. He said data from the Child Protection Unit identifies neglect, largely due to poor parental supervision, as the most prevalent form of abuse.
Another persistent issue is the failure of many fathers to provide child maintenance.
“Usually, lack of child support and lack of child involvement, go hand-in-hand,” he said. “This is another contributing factor to juvenile delinquency.
Fathers, you play a key role in your child’s development. Therefore, I implore you to take your responsibilities seriously.”
On domestic violence, Mr Laroda confirmed that referrals continue to pour in from victims fleeing abusive households, underscoring the pressing need for more shelter space. While some
temporary accommodation is being provided, he admitted it is not enough to meet the growing demand.
The ministry plans to partner with police on a one-stop-shop initiative to better support victims and help them rebuild their lives.
Despite widespread reports of child abuse, domestic violence, and shelter shortages, Mr Laroda provided no update on the long-stalled implementation of the Protection Against Violence Bill. Passed over a year ago, the legislation mandates the formation of a commission to support victims, aid police in cases of limited cooperation, and develop a national strategy for violence prevention.
To date, the commission has not been established, and the government has offered few updates, prompting criticism from local advocacy groups and members of the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee (PHRC).
PHRC deputy chair Senator Michela Barnett-Ellis acknowledged the delay last month and expressed hope that the committee’s involvement would help move the process forward.
Mr Laroda noted that demand for social assistance, including shelter, remains high. He admitted officials are sometimes forced to turn people away due to lack of space.
He also revealed that the number of children in state-run shelters has grown significantly over the past year, though he did not provide specific figures. While women remain the majority of applicants, there has been a noticeable rise in men and unemployed individuals seeking help.
“I therefore appeal to corporate Bahamas and faith-based organizations to make long-term investments in such ventures,” he said. “While seasonal giveaways and similar goodwill projects are important and greatly appreciated, there should be a focus on sustainable and permanent solutions to address homelessness and housing insecurity.”
He said plans are underway for a nationwide survey to determine the scale of homelessness in The Bahamas.
Mr Laroda also pointed to the launch of the annual National Women’s Symposium, which attracted between 700 and 1,000 participants and featured 40 exhibits. He said the event included an educational forum on the Protection Against Violence Act, where stakeholders, survivors, and victims shared candid insights and proposed solutions to the challenges facing women in the country.
Comments
bahamianson says...
Disturbing rise or is it that better investigations are finding this truth? Maybe more are confessing or better police work are both shedding light to the problem.
Posted 10 June 2025, 1:57 p.m. Suggest removal
bogart says...
These absolutely horrible heinous conditions/trends ONLY NOW being spread informed nationally by a senior government official who seems to have a good heart on trying to do better for our fellow suffering brothers and sisters in our beloved Bahamaland.
Almost everyone travelling on main roads can see extremely destitute generally young men in really dirt caked clothes obviously unchanged for weeks, sleeping curled up on the cold concrete sidewalk sleeping in areas that was never happened before and increasing as the years go by. Females are around areas like food stores and even inside food stores who would be asking for a dollar to help buy food and pay for a couple of items in a basket, really, really, really depressing knowing our brothers and sisters, mothers, fathers, cousins someone's family member is going through these horrible conditions and really hurtful suffering.
Posted 10 June 2025, 2:36 p.m. Suggest removal
joeblow says...
... I have been hearing stories of this in Nassau and some family islands for more than 30 years, but I have never heard of a parent going to jail for it. We are lost as a nation; no conscience or moral compass and people think more new police cars or technology will address the crime issue, think again! People need Jesus!
Posted 10 June 2025, 3:42 p.m. Suggest removal
SP says...
Only Bahamians are unable to find employment and are ending up homeless and begging for survival!
Haitians, Asians, and Latinos, enjoy full employment.
The Bahamas needs Trump to step in and put Bahamians first!
Posted 10 June 2025, 5:13 p.m. Suggest removal
quavaduff says...
the last thing the Bahamas needs is the sexual pervert and racist trump
Posted 11 June 2025, 8:56 a.m. Suggest removal
moncurcool says...
Ditto.
People have to real lack intelligence to talk about wanting a leader like that.
Posted 11 June 2025, 10:19 a.m. Suggest removal
carltonr61 says...
Laroda has big big big Red Elephant giant balls that will destroy him politically as he is digging into why mothers dismiss fathers and prefer to live as single moms knowing a father will protect his children. Mothers always find a way to manipulate children away from fathers in order to sell sons and daughters to ensure a constant stream of money which exposed children to a revolving door of sexual partners with the mother playing the controlling role of gambling house man securing her welfare. The tips of these demonic sexual deviance's begins with these LBGHQ Crises Centers that panders to destroying the Biblical role of husbands and fathers as leaders and these groups are backed in God's name against Holy Matrimony by Satanic young centers of Evangelistic pastors. Fathers save their daughters and sons from being sexually sold, as mentioned and the mothers/wives manipulates children against their fathers. Sexual selling survival that females witness in childhood is imposed upon their very daughters. by discouraging their academics and convincing them against higher education promoting them to become whores.and the father husband is labeled a mistreat-er of daughters and sons. It is just too sad that our Bahamian Crises Centers dont consider mothers selling their daughters and sons into prostitution a moral sin and crime. But they focus 100% attention on husbands and fathers who try to impose boundaries and discipline. Our Hill To Centers Of Religious Evangelicals promotes satanic non Biblical child freedom as promoted by their children being raised across the perverted internet and not grandparents who can teach them basic how to fish, These modern young stupid pastors teaches a Satanic religion of Judas and money thirty pieces of silver over Mary/Jesus painful sacrifice.
Posted 11 June 2025, 6:11 a.m. Suggest removal
carltonr61 says...
The solution is that Laroda is 100% correct. The Womens dem Crises Center knows the truth. but they are too bust destroying husbands than saving our young no long term plans, female leaders are divorced with chaotic non structured family backgrounds who put money before sacrifice not noticing that multi billionaires are also not happy, ladies caught up in grueling gambling financial slavery horrors, not knowing The Our Father Prayer, living for the seconds of desire without giving thanks to God.
Posted 11 June 2025, 11:51 p.m. Suggest removal
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