Police asked to probe actions of CPFSA's CEO

By Warren Bertram

Pressure is mounting on Chief Executive Officer of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency, Rosalee Gage Grey, as she faces scrutiny from the Public Services Commission and the police.

Youth Minister Fayval Williams has called for the Commission and the police to investigate Mrs Gage-Grey's actions in the matter which led to a report from the Office of the Children's Advocate (OCA) into the CPFSA's relationship with founder of the US based Charity, Embracing Orphans, Carl Robanske.

Mr Robanske had been sanctioned in the US for exchanging sexually inappropriate messages to a minor.

Speaking in the House of Representatives yesterday, Mrs Williams said she was outraged at the findings of the report provided by the Office of the Children’s Advocate (OCA).

She accused the CEO of the CPFSA of disobeying instructions to sever ties with the American after the claims of sexual misconduct surfaced.

The Youth Minister also disclosed that the police have been given the information necessary for a deeper probe to determine if charges can be brought against persons named in the OCA report.

She said, after consultation and notifying other relevant authorities about the report, the police were asked to conduct a full criminal investigation.

Recommendations

Several of the recommendations coming out of the OCA’s report call for the risk assessment tools and procedures utilized by the CPFSA to be revisited. It's proposed that they be assessed and aligned with best practices, to empower the leadership of the CPFSA to gain the capacity to effectively manage sensitive matters.

The OCA also wants the leadership and managers of the CPFSA to be exposed to extensive capacity building and training in the fundamental principles of safeguarding children in state care and the special vulnerabilities of those exiting care.

The OCA, in its report on the matter, noted that material inconsistencies and discrepancies exposed at the level of the CEO are of concern and should be addressed, because of the reliance placed on the holder of that office.

The report highlighted how flawed information which was provided to the Minister by the CPFSA led them into error and served as the basis for inaccuracies being communicated to the nation.

In its final recommendation the OCA says due to the CEO's gross breach of the duty of care to wards of the state and former wards housed at facilities run by the CPFSA, the Minister of Education & Youth should take such disciplinary or other steps as may be appropriate against the CEO.