Children at Qahal Yahweh site were fed medicine with the same spoon, says witness
Published:Monday | February 17, 2025 | 9:36 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
A prosecution witness from the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) testified on Friday that several children who were removed from the controversial Qahal Yahweh religious compound on June 7, 2023, including some with flu-like symptoms, were being fed a medicine-like substance with the same spoon.
The witness, a CPFSA children’s officer, was giving evidence during Friday’s continuation of the trial of 16 Qahal Yahweh members, who are before the St James Parish Court on a range of charges.
“My attention was drawn to the breakfast time, when breakfast was being served, and this was between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. Everyone was being served by one or two individuals from the same utensils, and there was a bowl with medication like DPH inside it. Each child got the medicine using the same spoon,” the witness testified.
“Noticeably, most of the children had flu-like symptoms with runny nose and coughing, and it was during the COVID-19 period, so that was a concern for their medical health for us,” the witness continued.
A previous prosecution witness, also a CPFSA representative, had similarly testified on November 22, 2024 that children and adults at the Qahal Yahweh compound were seen being fed with one large spoon, that some children were seen coughing and having runny noses. The witness further noted that two teenagers at the site appeared to be pregnant.
Friday’s witness also told the court that when she and members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and other CPFSA officers arrived at the compound on June 7, 2023, she attempted to retrieve the birth certificates and immunisation cards of the children she saw there. However, while she collected a few birth certificates, she did not get any immunisation cards.
After the witness’ evidence-in-chief was completed, trial judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce set the matter for continuation on March 28, when defence attorney Peter Champagnie will begin cross-examination. The 16 defendants in the trial all had their bails extended.
The defendants – Christopher Anderson, Omar Thompson, Jevaughn Thompson, Nekeisha Harding, Derrick Clarke, Roanalee Maitland, Alicia Meadley, Fabian Nelson, Franchain Paris, Jodian Spence, Jose Foskin, Oral Spence, Rayon Letman, Ingrid Williams, Vera Woolery, and Melisha Thompson – are on trial for breaches of the Child Care and Protection Act and the Education Act.
During the June 7, 2023 operation at the Qahal Yahweh compound in Paradise, Norwood, St James, 23 children were removed from the premises and placed in state care. A follow-up operation on June 30 that year led to the arrest and charge of the defendants.
The Qahal Yahweh group previously came in the spotlight in 2019 when the police removed six children, including a pregnant 16-year-old, from the compound. The church was under investigation at that time in relation to allegations that the group was conducting child marriages, as well as being involved in human trafficking, abduction, child abuse and sexual assault.