Arianne Navarre-Marie Launches the Special Committee on the Care of Children with Behavioral Issues
On Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Arianne Navarre-Marie, chaired the inaugural working meeting with members of the newly established Special Committee set up by the Cabinet. This initiative marks a significant step in the government's commitment to enhance the care of children with serious behavioral concerns (Children with Serious Behavioural Concerns - CSBC) placed in institutions.
Following the Cabinet's decision last Friday (January 23, 2026), the Special Committee was officially formed under the presidency of Ms. Shefali Ganoo-Arekion, a magistrate. The committee includes two assessors: Ms. Kate Ah Nien-Kotadoo, a Coordinator at the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, and Vincent Mandrou, a psychologist with extensive experience working with children with special needs.
The Special Committee has been entrusted with four essential mandates:
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Assess existing institutional mechanisms, including the operation of care structures, the profile of affected children, placement procedures under the Probation of Offenders Act and the Reform Institutions Act, available human resources, as well as rehabilitation and reintegration programs.
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Review the current legislative framework, including the Children’s Act 2020, the Probation of Offenders Act, the Reform Institutions Act, and associated regulations, to determine whether they adequately meet the protection and care needs of children with serious behavioral concerns.
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Formulate concrete recommendations based on its findings, including specific legislative amendments and appropriate intervention pathways as well as suitable infrastructures for CSBC.
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Guide public policies by proposing future directions to improve service delivery for children with behavioral issues and those with psychiatric problems.
In the coming days, the Committee will visit existing infrastructures and care centers currently housing these children. This field approach will allow committee members to gain a concrete and comprehensive understanding of the current situation.
"This first meeting reflects our determination to place the well-being and protection of our children at the heart of our priorities," emphasized Ms. Arianne Navarre-Marie. "We are committed to establishing a care system that is humane, effective, and tailored to the specific needs of each child. The work of this Committee will serve as a cornerstone in reforming our child protection system."
The Ministry is dedicated to working closely with the Special Committee to ensure that the recommendations stemming from its work lead to concrete and sustainable actions benefiting the most vulnerable children in our society.
