Oct 24, 2026
2 min read
President Dr Irfaan Ali has ordered the establishment of an inter-agency task force to develop a national plan for children’s safety and welfare, amid renewed concern over recent child deaths and calls for stronger protection.
The move comes days after the discovery of six-year-old Orlando Jaikarran’s body in a canal in West Coast Berbice. His father was charged with murder and remanded to prison on Friday.
The Rights of the Child Commission has also urged an urgent review of child protection systems following Orlando’s death and that of a three-year-old boy who died alongside his mother in a house fire.
The Commission called for closer coordination among police, schools, social services and the Childcare and Protection Agency to identify and address warning signs earlier.
According to a statement on the President’s engagement, participants at a consultative meeting agreed that recent events required immediate and coordinated action. The statement did not identify the specific incidents discussed.
The Attorney General will coordinate the task force, bringing together representatives from the Government, Judiciary, law enforcement, religious organisations, civil society and other relevant stakeholders.
Its mandate will cover children’s mental health, welfare and safety, with an emphasis on action involving families, schools, communities and state agencies.
Measures discussed included parental support, public education, psychosocial services, mentoring, school activities and access to healthy recreation.
Participants also considered regulating children’s exposure to music, social media and other influences, reviewing laws and law enforcement approaches, and making adjustments to the administration of justice.
The statement did not explain what those regulations or legal changes could involve.
The task force will develop recommendations and proposed actions for review and implementation. No deadline for completing that work was announced.
