Days after the death of Daniel Guerra, Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh yesterday announced the launch of a 24-hour child hotline. Gopeesingh made the announcement during his visit to Gasparillo Government Primary School where eight-year-old Daniel Guerra had been a Standard Two pupil.
Reiterating that the Government was doing all in its power to bring the perpetrator to justice, Gopeesingh asked pupils to research the meaning of psychopath. "There are many psychopaths in our society at the moment," said Gopeesingh, as he warned the children about strangers who would try to befriend them.
He advised them to report any suspicious activity or people to their parents or teachers.
Gopeesingh said the hotline launch was a collaboration between his ministry and the Ministry of the People and Social Development. He said students could either call directly or send texts. "It is going to be open 24 hours, so anytime anyone of you are worried about something and you cannot reach your parents, teachers, principals or immediate family, you call that child hotline," Gopeesingh said.
Interviewed afterwards, he said the initiative was part of the National Student Hotline Programme, a non-governmental organisation which started in September at a cost of roughly $1.3 million. "I think it is going to assist tremendously...We intend to let all schools know about it through communication with the principal and we also have a DVD and jingle," he said.
Gopeesingh said the hotline got some 3,000 calls per month and they anticipate an increase to 5,000.
Gopeesingh said it would be difficult to know whether the hotline could have assisted Guerra since they don't know the factors involved in his death. "We have to rid society of psychopaths and monsters as described by prime minister yesterday," he said. "Is it another Sean Luke? Another type of young Anamunthodo? "It is very sad that we have people in this society that behave like this...They really do not belong in society.
"They should be somewhere locked away from being able to interact with any individual. "This is why the strictest penalty must be applied to a person found guilty of this heinous offence." Gopeesingh said counselling was being provided for Daniel's friends, classmates and family through the Student Support Services. Daniel never returned to his home on Bedeau Street, Gasparillo, after purchasing a beverage at a neighbourhood parlour on Friday morning. His body was found in a river near the Tarouba Link Road, San Fernando, on Sunday.