For an independent news outlet, an invitation to a “Pizza and Policy” event hosted by The Caymanian Community Party Youth Council naturally came with a degree of caution. Events hosted by political organisations often provide a platform for policy announcements, political messaging or attempts to shape a particular narrative.

But on July 17, at the Intergenerational Hub, the expectation gave way to something unexpected.

The event, titled “Pizza and Policy: Safeguarding Our Youth”, did not unfold as a political exercise. There were no current or former MPs taking centre stage, no party soundbites and no partisan debate. Instead, the evening became a candid conversation involving safeguarding professionals, youth representatives and a survivor advocate about child sexual abuse, protection and responsibility.

Moderated by Amy Mobley, the session featured Detective Superintendent Richard Barrow, Head of the Public Protection Portfolio of the RCIPS; Rayle Roberts, Director of the Department of Counselling Services; Camille Angel, Youth Services Coordinator; and Leanni Tibbetts, a Caymanian advocate, former Miss World Cayman Islands, licensed commercial pilot, volunteer and survivor.

The discussion examined the realities faced by children and families, why abuse can remain hidden, how perpetrators exploit trust, why victims may struggle to disclose harm and what individuals, families and institutions can do differently.

The message from the panel was direct: safeguarding children requires more than awareness. It requires adults to recognise warning signs, challenge situations that raise concern and create environments where children feel safe to speak.

“It ends with you”

Tibbetts’ contribution came from both personal experience and years of advocacy, using her public platform to encourage conversations around resilience, purpose and issues affecting young people.

Her podcast, The Proverbs 31 Podcast, takes its name from the final chapter of the Book of Proverbs, which describes the virtues of a noble and God-fearing woman. Through the platform, Tibbetts has hosted conversations about personal journeys, challenges and life experiences, including discussions with guests who have shared experiences of childhood abuse.

At the event, Tibbetts spoke openly about experiencing sexual abuse as a minor by a relative - an experience that shaped her commitment to advocacy and her determination to speak about an issue that often remains hidden.

She said her faith in God had been a source of strength and inspiration, giving her the courage to speak publicly about her experience and advocate for others.

Her message was not only about what happened to her, but about what communities can do differently - creating environments where children feel safe to speak and where adults are prepared to listen.

Tibbetts urged the community to acknowledge that child sexual abuse can happen even in places that consider themselves safe.

“If two out of three was the murder rate in Cayman, we would do something about it,” she said.

She spoke about grooming, exploitation and the reality that perpetrators can often be people known to children and families, including individuals in positions of trust.

That familiarity, safeguarding professionals said, can make abuse more difficult to recognise and may create additional barriers to disclosure.

Tibbetts said victims may struggle to speak out because of fear, feelings of shame, confusion or because they do not immediately recognise themselves as victims.

She also spoke about the strength required to share difficult experiences publicly, describing the importance of finding the courage to advocate for change.

Her message focused on ending cycles of harm:

“Because it happened to me, doesn’t mean it has to happen to you. It ended with me. It ends with you.”

A difficult reality

The conversation comes amid concerns highlighted by Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) data showing an increase in sexual offences in the Cayman Islands.

According to RCIPS, sexual offences increased by 20% in 2025, with 125 incidents recorded. Of the victims involved, 58% were children, primarily female.

The figures were referenced during the discussion as a reminder of the scale of safeguarding concerns facing the community and the need for prevention, education and stronger protective practices.

The panel noted that increased reporting can also reflect greater awareness, improved recognition of safeguarding concerns and a greater willingness by victims or those around them to come forward.

The discussion also touched on accountability within the justice system, including convictions for sexual offences and the use of Sexual Harm Prevention Orders.

Cayman does not currently operate a publicly accessible sex offenders register, but Sexual Harm Prevention Orders allow courts to impose restrictions on individuals where necessary to reduce the risk of sexual harm.

When trust is exploited

Detective Superintendent Richard Barrow, spoke about why child sexual abuse investigations can be complex.

He highlighted that alleged perpetrators may have familiar links with victims or families and may occupy positions of trust that provide access, influence or authority.

Barrow said victims may not always initially identify themselves as victims, particularly in circumstances involving grooming, manipulation or relationships where trust has been exploited.

Understanding those dynamics is critical for professionals, families and communities because the relationship between the victim and the person causing harm can affect recognition, disclosure and the investigation process.

The panel collectively stressed that when a child raises a concern, adults must listen, take it seriously and respond in a way that prioritises the child’s safety.

“Being a good man isn’t enough”

Rayle Roberts, Director of the Department of Counselling Services, recalled the words of his late wife, Estella Scott-Roberts, who often said, “Being a good man isn’t enough.”

Scott-Roberts, the former executive director of the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre, dedicated her life to supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence before she was raped and murdered in 2008. Nearly two decades later, Roberts said her words remain a powerful reminder that protecting children and vulnerable people requires more than good intentions - it demands the courage to act.

He said safeguarding cannot be left solely to police, counsellors or child protection professionals. And his message was directed at the wider community, urging adults to challenge behaviour they believe is wrong and to become more comfortable having difficult conversations, even when doing so feels uncomfortable.

“We need to be unashamed in saying, ‘I thought it was wrong’,” he said.

Roberts said one of the greatest risks to children comes when adults fail to educate themselves about safeguarding and abuse.

“The risk to all of our children is us - it’s us not educating ourselves, not understanding what safeguarding and abuse is,” he said.

Changing culture, protecting children

The discussion also explored the role of culture and whether communities are willing to examine attitudes and behaviours that can allow harm to remain hidden.

Roberts conveyed how cultural identity and safeguarding are not competing ideas, and that communities can preserve their values while changing practices that place children at risk.

“We have to understand that culture can be changed. I know we hold steadfast to our culture, but we can achieve the same results,” he said.

He said the goal was not to reject Caymanian identity, but to ensure that harmful behaviours, silence or reluctance to challenge inappropriate actions are no longer accepted.

Roberts said this was not unique to Cayman, but a wider conversation across communities.

“Whether Caribbean, Caymanian, we are no longer accepting of [harmful behaviours]. When you start to do that, it will start to impact others and the Cayman Islands then becomes a place where that is not culturally accepted anymore,” he said.

During the discussion, the speakers warned against viewing Cayman only through an idealised image, referring to the idea of a “postcard society” - “glossy outside, dirty inside” - where serious issues can remain hidden behind a positive public image.

The phrase was used to encourage greater honesty about child sexual abuse, with speakers emphasising that acknowledging problems is a necessary step towards protecting children.

The panel also highlighted the importance of recognising changes in children’s behaviour and circumstances that may indicate they could be potential victims of abuse or exploitation.

The panel noted that behaviours sometimes dismissed as anger, defiance or “misbehaviour” can, in some circumstances, be signs that a child may need support. They also discussed how children who appear constantly occupied through activities, competitions or other commitments may sometimes use busy schedules as a way of avoiding difficult experiences or emotions.

The panel stressed that these signs should not be viewed in isolation or treated as proof of abuse, but rather as reminders for adults to remain engaged, ask questions and understand what may be happening beneath the surface. Warning that failing to recognise and respond to early signs of distress can have long-term consequences, with impacts potentially extending into adulthood.

Creating safer spaces for young people

The discussion also highlighted the importance of creating safe environments where young people can seek support, build trusted relationships and feel comfortable asking for help.

Amy Mobley, who moderated the panel, guided discussion around the need for safe “third spaces” - places outside traditional settings such as home and school where young people can connect, develop relationships and access trusted support.

The panel agreed that young people need spaces where they feel able to ask questions, disclose concerns and seek guidance without fear of judgement.

Camille Angel, Youth Services Coordinator, said safeguarding requires more than awareness of the issues; it requires adults to put that understanding into practice in the way they engage with children.

“It’s not just about awareness but also practice,” Angel said. “The child you’re speaking to is a person. Internalise what you pour into them.”

She emphasised that the way adults communicate with and respond to young people can shape whether children feel valued, heard and safe enough to seek help when they need it.

Online risks and early exposure

The panel discussed concerns around children’s exposure to adult sexual content online and the potential impact on young people’s understanding of relationships, consent and boundaries.

Speakers said early exposure to inappropriate or harmful sexual content can influence the way young people understand intimacy and acceptable behaviour.

They stressed the importance of age-appropriate conversations, digital awareness and ensuring children have trusted adults they can approach when they encounter content they do not understand or that makes them uncomfortable.

Reporting and safeguarding responses

The discussion highlighted the importance of reporting concerns and the role of agencies working together to protect children.

RCIPS data shows the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) received 2,723 child safeguarding referrals in 2025, with many referrals coming from mandatory reporter professionals who have responsibilities to report suspected abuse or neglect.

Speakers noted that a referral is not a finding of guilt; it allows safeguarding agencies to assess concerns and determine what support or intervention may be required.

They emphasised that safeguarding is not only about awareness but also about practice - how adults respond when children disclose concerns and how agencies work together.

RCIPS has also adopted the Philomena Protocol, a safeguarding approach designed to support faster responses when children go missing and help identify vulnerabilities and risks.

Supporting families

The panel stressed that safeguarding begins before a crisis occurs and that families need access to support, education and resources.

The Family Resource Centre (FRC), a department of the Cayman Islands Counselling Services, provides free parent coaching, counselling and specialised workshops designed to support families and strengthen relationships.

Speakers encouraged parents and caregivers to view seeking support as a proactive step in creating safer environments for children.

A responsibility shared across generations

Held at the Intergenerational Hub, the discussion reflected its central message: protecting children is a responsibility shared across the whole community.

Parents, professionals, neighbours, institutions and trusted adults all have a role in recognising risks and responding when concerns arise.

The conversation acknowledged that child sexual abuse can be difficult to discuss, but speakers said avoiding discomfort cannot come at the expense of children’s safety.

The final message was not about one organisation or one individual solving the problem.

It was about a community choosing to listen, speak and act.

“It ends with you.”