Rules for new Children’s Commission to be revealed next month
Details of the new Children’s Commission’s powers will be made public in the next month, the Government said yesterday.
Tinee Furbert, the Social Development and Seniors Minister, promised that the “flagship” policy to replace the Child Care Placement Board would be outlined before Christmas.
Ms Furbert said: “You should be hearing some information very shortly.
“It is a process. I have to share this with other stakeholders.
“I would say, probably, within the next month. It is one of our flagship policies.”
The changes were announced in last year’s Throne Speech, but Ms Furbert insisted the Government had not dragged its feet.
Ms Furbert said: “We will be announcing shortly where we are progressing with this and I’m actually happy about the progress that we have made in regards to replacing the Child Care Placement Board – particularly giving the voice of children in care a priority within the new body that we are looking to put forward to the country.
“We have gone through much stake holder meetings and looking at this process in detail.”
Ms Furbert added there were about 75 children in care at present, which was “not uncommon for a small state jurisdiction of our size”.
The Minister hailed the move towards Litigation Guardians for children in court.
She said: “We believe there are about 11 cases with acting Litigation Guardians at the moment.
“It is up to the court to appoint and to make a decision as to whether a child requires a Litigation Guardian.”
The Minister said that “approximately three” Bermudian children were currently overseas as part of the Psycho-Educational Program which is aimed at helping youngsters who are sent for therapeutic help abroad.
Asked about creating a facility in Bermuda to help such children on home turf, the Minister said: “We are always discussing as to how we can support and progress our children in Bermuda.
“Again, it is not uncommon for children who need support to be able to seek intensive intervention outside of our country.
“It does happen in other countries, and so we want to be able to provide best support and best intervention that we can so that these children have the best outcomes.”
Minister Furbert added that upgrades had been made to children’s homes.
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