There are disturbing reports in St Vincent and the Grenadines of adults abandoning children and teenagers at emergency shelters as well as the elderly being left alone.
Director of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) in SVG Michelle Forbes said they have had children (primary school-aged) being left alone for quite some time and teenagers being abandoned.
She said people were going back home and leaving their children/teenagers at the emergency shelters, not indicating to the shelter managers that they are stepping out.
Forbes said the situation has occurred in different shelters and altogether it is around 50 children and teenagers.
“Some people claimed they were going home to clean up and did not come back for a couple of days.”
Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves upon hearing the situation made an appeal to citizens not to abandon their children as well as not to leave their elderly folk like that in shelters.
“You know it is wrong to leave your elderly like that at the mercy of other people. Also do not abandon your children.”
The NEMO Director and prime minister discussed this issue on NBC Radio on May 3.