Negligent parents can be charged, says PS Kuruleca

The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection will enforce criminalising negligence if parents fail to fulfil their responsibility.

Speaking during their submissions to the Standing Committee on Defence and Foreign Affairs, permanent secretary for women, children and social protection, Selina Kuruleca said the ministry was working with the Fiji Police Force to enforce this law.

“We can ask the police to now please prosecute negligence ... (a law) that has always been there,” she said, indicating this was the last resort if all other avenues were exhausted.

Ms Kuruleca was responding to a question posed by the committee on measures implemented to address the growing number of children selling food around urban centres.

“Children who are supposed to be in school we will take them back to their homes to their parents.

“The Child Justice Act allows the Ministry of Justice to go and do age verification. If you are 15 and you’re saying you’re 19, but we see you and you are 15, we can verify the age and then take you back to your parents.

“Going to school and staying in school are the two things that we need to get right.” Ms Kuruleca said addressing the issue needed to be a more concerted effort.

The ministry will undertake street sweep, where children are profiled and taken back to their homes before taking any further actions, should parents fail to uphold their responsibilities.

Feedback: ivamere.nataro@fijisun.com.fj