Child protection agency probing death of 9yo in Westmoreland

The Child Protection and Family Services Agency is reporting that it is probing the circumstances that led to the killing of a nine-year-old student of the Newworks Infant and Primary School in Westmoreland yesterday.

In a statement today, the agency said it dispatched a team of first responders to the home of the deceased to provide grief counselling to the family.

It says the team is currently visiting the school, where group therapy sessions will be conducted in partnership with other key stakeholders.

Commenting on the tragedy, Floyd Green, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information expressed shock and sadness.

“This is not the kind of news we want to hear, it shows clearly that as a country we must go back to the days of the village raising the child. No child should ever feel unsafe. The killing of any child must be condemned in the strongest possible term,” he said.

Chief Executive Officer of the agency Rosalee Gage-Grey extended condolences to the family and community members following the gruesome killing.

“The CPFSA mourns with the families and community members at this difficult time. Our deepest sympathies are with the mother, siblings, school populous and the wider community. We condemn any killing of our children,” she said.

Green said he’s awaiting a full report on the incident. 

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