A thirteen year old girl has given birth in Trinidad and Tobago. The baby girl was born at San Fernando General Hospital on March 24.
The young mother and child have since been discharged from the hospital. Sources at the hospital say that the baby weighed close to three kilos. Officials alerted the Southern division police when the pregnant teen was admitted. In addition, sources indicate that the child was also counselled by a medical social worker based at the hospital.
Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent Cecil Santana of the Southern Division confirmed that he had received the report and it was handed over to officers of the South Oropouche Police Station to continue investigations.
Approximately, two months ago, Medical Director of the SFGH Dr Anand Chattergoon gave instructions to medical personnel to report such matters to the police if ever a minor (under age 18) was admitted to the hospital or sought advice regarding sex-related issues as well as in the case of pregnancies.
According to press reports in Trinidad, police sources said based on preliminary investigations, the man who allegedly impregnated the 13-year-old is 32-years of age and lives not far from the teenager’s home.
In a different case, a taxi driver appeared in the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court charged with unlawful sexual relations with an underage girl. The accused appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington.
The first charge alleged that on March 27, the man had sex with a 13-year-old girl. The magistrate read a second charge which alleged that on the same day, he also committed indecent assault on the girl. The charges are indictable and the accused taxi driver was not called upon to plead.
The 21 year-old accused was granted bail in the sum of TT$100,000. The case was adjourned to May 6.
