OCR Urges Parents and Guardians to Provide Proper Supervision

The Office of the Children’s Registry (OCR) is disturbed at news of the number of bodies of children found over a seven day period, ending January 29.

Reports from the media are that the body of a five year old girl from St. Mary was discovered last week by a family member who went to check on the child.

In another incident reported on Monday in that same parish, the body of a fourteen year old girl was found near a river where she had reportedly gone on Sunday to wash items of clothing and have a bath.

This was followed by reports on Wednesday that the dismembered body of a fourteen year old girl from Westmoreland was found near her school.

The OCR finds stories such as these troubling and calls on citizens who may have any information regarding the death of these children to report to the Police without delay.

The agency also wishes to extent sympathies to the family, friends and community members of the children who have lost their lives, as they go through this very difficult experience.

Registrar at the OCR, Mr. Greig Smith, says “the reports about dead children in recent days are alarming as youngsters who should be living to attain their full potentials as being robbed of that opportunity. Against this background I wish to urge parents and guardians to ensure that mechanisms are in place to guard against their children being left alone, even in their neighbourhoods and school communities.”

He adds that “the law states that children are persons below eighteen years old, therefore, even teenagers required some amount of supervision. Children who travel to and from schools and other places, who cannot always be accompanied by parents or guardians are encouraged to walk in groups. Parents and school administrators are urged to develop effective partnerships where updates can be provided on whether children arrive at school safely and where enquires are made promptly about children who are absent from school. This will help to eliminate delays in locating children who may be missing and could also mean the difference between these children being found dead or alive.”

The Registrar also wishes to remind members of the public that since the Ananda Alert system was created in 2009 to ensure the safe and speedy recovery of missing children, persons no longer have to wait twenty four hours before reporting a child missing for the Police and the OCR to act in trying to locate him or her.

Members of the public are also being reminded to report all cases of known or suspected missing of abused children to the Registry. Persons may do so by calling: Toll free-1-888-PROTECT (7768328), LIME-9082132, 822-7031, 754-9133; DIGICEL-618-5888, 878-2882; FLOW-631-8933, 631-8908. All reports received are kept confidential and you do not have to give your name when making a report.