SEVERAL political parties are urging that more should be done to protect children from abuse in children's homes and to prevent school fights.

The call comes amid several reports of school violence, the Justice Jones report on abuse in children's homes and revelations contained in the 25-year-old Sabga report, which also detailed acts of abuse and violence against children, which it investigated back in 1997.

UNC HITS FEEBLE GOVERNMENT

For the Opposition UNC, Princes Town MP Barry Padarath, in a statement, recently accused the Prime Minister of "a weak and feeble series of excuses" over the handling of abuse in children's homes. He claimed little urgency by Government to review the licensing, monitoring and supervising of children's homes.

Padarath said if unlicensed homes did not meet the requisite standard and criteria, the Children's Authority must make suitable and safe alternative arrangements for the children in their care until errant homes could comply.

He proposed a national commission on children, a children's ombudsman, an enhanced Child Protection Unit of the police and more teeth for the Children's Authority. He urged a review of the process of adoption.

Padarath told Newsday, "What we are saying is that there must be an alternative in order to take the children out of that toxic environment and ensure they are in a safe and conducive environment until there's proper supervision and the homes can be dealt with in terms of meeting the regulations and becoming licensed and fitting the criteria.

"It is irresponsible, heartless and cruel to allow children to continue to function in these environments, subjected to rape, abuse and even murder. There should be alternative arrangements."

MSJ: THIS IS NOT NEW

Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) political leader David Abdulah told Newsday, "This is not a new issue. There have been previous studies and reports on abuse of children in children's homes. Successive governments have failed to implement recommendations. We as a society have been failing our children who are at risk."

Abdulah said the MSJ was extremely disturbed by the Jones report, publicised four months after its submission in December.

"That was not acceptable: the Government having the report for four months and, despite what the Prime Minister has said, clearly dragged its feet on this situation."

He said the MSJ is discussing school violence and children in the care of state-run and funded homes.

"Coming out of those talks, the MSJ would formulate a more concrete proposal on child rights and how we protect our children."

PEP: HOMES UNSCRUPULOUSProgressive Empowerment Party (PEP) head Phillip Edward Alexander said children's homes unethically used children to bring in state funds, without adequate accountability.

"Under PEP's social development master plan, the Ministry of Education will come under the Ministry of Social Development and all children (will be) mapped and accounted for as long as they are minors.

"Purpose-built ten-year schools will have guidance co