In the first reported case here, a guardian's application to discharge her duties to look after a teenager entrusted to her care has been rejected by the court, which made clear a guardian cannot abdicate a legal duty based on her unwillingness alone.

In judgment grounds last week, Family Court District Judge Sheik Mustafa said that a child who is placed in the guardianship of an adult must be assured that he or she is "in a safe harbour that is not transient and is not affected by winds of willingness alone".