by Linda Straker
- Under-10 male minor sleeps in outside extension as punishment for bedwetting
- Investigation launched but not much done
- Child Protection Authority (CPA) and police admit to knowing about the situation
A minor in a rural community in the parish of St John has for more than a year been made to sleep in an outside “cage-like extension” of the family home as punishment for wetting his bed at night.
“His stepfather doesn’t like him because he is wetting the bed and so he builds the cage for him to sleep in,” said a community member. “Many children wet the bed, so I cannot understand why his mother will allow that to happen,” he added. Made from metal roofing, the extension attached to the side of the family home contained a mattress for the child to use at nights. The minor, who is male and under 10, remained in squalid living conditions for months before the situation was drawn to the attention of the relevant authorities. An investigation was launched but not much was done to create a better environment for the family nor the child.
“The family told the police the cage extension is for family use, and with that reason, nothing else happened. However, within days, he was back again in the cage because the police seemed to forget the matter,” the community member said. Calls to several people in the community confirmed the degraded sleeping area exists, and they expressed concern about the longterm negative impact it will have on the primary school student. “This child is treated as if he is not a human being. He is physically, emotionally and verbally abused by his mother and others,” said the community member who drew the plight of the minor to this writer. People aware of the situation explained that the minor and his family members are both vulnerable and marginalised and need social assistance.
The minor once resided with his mother’s parents, but had to be removed because of their health conditions and inability to care for themselves properly. “They cannot take care of themselves properly so it’s not easy for them to care for him, and he ended up by his mother who from all indications agreed for him to sleep in the cage,” the community member added. As of Friday, 29 May 2020, both the Child Protection Authority (CPA) and the police admitted to knowing about the situation and were reserved when asked to confirm that a new investigation is ongoing.
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Outrageous. The sad part is the marginalized ones voted for those crooked politicians who only knows them every election.
Real Sad.
Please email me on [email protected] .Is the cage bad ??? as they see it as a extension of their home .It must be .The child must have some issues and is probably afraid that’s why they wetting bed. They are made to feel like they doing something wrong and they not.Noe to pull the child out of their home would that be better or worse .The parents need educating that if so the child needs support I understand if sharing a room it can be difficult but I would gladly buy the child pads to wear at night and anything they need to water proof the bed.I presume the child has he /her bed .But this needs to be addressed if the cage is not suitable then authorities should explain why .Its all about education or the child will be taken out of their home and would this be better or worse .
Of course they will come out again when election time comes around to make their empty promises and give their cock & bull story cause they have no shame may GOD have mercy on them so fake
this is just nonsense on the legal sentiment a child need you guys help and all you can do is go and see and do nothing . Come october you hypocrites will be in the streets and on social media , and news talking about what can be done to safe child abuse . if it were one of your family member you guys would of take action aready . Shame on the sentiment and poor child the community is telling you guys what is happing and you sit there and do nothing about . This is why when there is more serious thing like crime they dont say nothing to you guys. I pray that somebody will see the news in the big world and put it out there poor poor child.
Agreed