I am reaching out because I feel that my children and I have been failed by the system, and I believe this is an issue that deserves public attention.

For more than six years, I have been trying through the court system to get the father of my children to pay the child maintenance that he is required to pay. At this point, he owes more than EC$40,000 in child support.

Over the years, I have made numerous trips to the court and have taken the steps I was told to take. There have also been several warrants issued in relation to the unpaid maintenance. Despite all of this, the situation has continued for years, and the children have still not received the financial support they are entitled to.

Recently, I went to the court because I knew that the father was planning to leave Antigua. I informed the court that he was leaving the island, but I was told that I needed to provide evidence.

My problem was that I did not have a telephone number for him. I did not know the exact date or time he was leaving, and I had no access to his travel arrangements. I therefore did not know how I was expected to produce evidence that he was leaving the country.

He has now left Antigua.

I am now left trying to provide for my children on my salary alone while more than EC$40,000 in child maintenance remains unpaid.

Who is going to help me ? How can my salary alone feed the children? Groceries, Rent .

My question is:

Who is responsible for helping families like mine when a parent repeatedly fails to pay court-ordered child support and eventually leaves the country?

For more than six years, I have been trying to have this matter resolved. I have followed the court process, obtained warrants and repeatedly tried to get assistance, but the problem has continued.

I am not writing this because I want to attack anyone personally. I am writing because I want answers.

I want to know

Why can a parent continue to accumulate thousands of dollars in maintenance arrears despite repeated enforcement attempts?

What protection is available to children when a parent leaves the country owing a substantial amount of child support?

What assistance is available to the parent who is left behind trying to provide for the children?

I am asking for transparency and accountability.

My children should not have to suffer because their father has failed to meet his financial obligations. I work and do my best to provide for them, but my salary alone cannot continue to carry the full responsibility, especially with the amount of maintenance that remains outstanding.

I also want other parents in Antigua who may be experiencing the same situation to know that they are not alone and that this issue deserves attention.

I would be grateful if someone in Authority would consider looking into my situation and, more broadly, the effectiveness of child-maintenance enforcement in Antigua and Barbuda.

Can anyone help me?

I can be contacted at:

Email:

Simonantigua26@gmail.com

Yours sincerely,

Concerned Mother

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: LETTER: Father Leaves Antigua Owing More Than EC$40,000 in Maintenance.