What was done to the abandoned infant in Lautoka was, without a doubt, a crime, says Minister for Women and Children Sashi Kiran.
She confirmed that the recent case of an infant abandoned in Lautoka was being treated as a crime, despite expressing sympathy for the young mother involved.
Ms Kiran said while the situation was deeply emotional and complex, abandoning a child cannot be overlooked under the law.
“They are currently conducting an investigation,” she said.
“They are looking into it, it’s a crime.
“Our hearts go out to both the child and the mother, but I have been told by police that the law has to take its course and I understand that.”
Ms Kiran revealed she had personally met the young mother and seen the baby.
She described the mother’s actions as possibly driven by fear and panic, noting that many people make decisions without fully thinking through the consequences.
“I mean, all of us have in our lives made mistakes.
“She has got her path planned, or what she’s going to do.”
While calling for empathy, Ms Kiran also underlined the need for strong messaging around child welfare and legal accountability.
“There are huge numbers of child neglect cases.
“It is not acceptable to neglect our children.
“That is a big challenge, and there has to be some strong messaging around this.”
Ms Kiran said the incident should serve as a wake-up call for better outreach and support systems for vulnerable women, particularly young mothers facing crisis situations.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
