Amend airport search policy, protect children
Published:Tuesday | February 22, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Laura Redpath, Senior Gleaner Writer
Jamaican advocacy group Hear the Children's Cry is calling for the Airports Authority of Jamaica to implement a policy stating that children should be searched in the presence of a parent or guardian.
Betty-Ann Blaine, founder of the advocacy group and head of New Nation Coalition, was responding to a Gleaner article published last Thursday about a mother's concern that her daughter's privacy was violated at a Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) security checkpoint.
"I would definitely support that a guardian be present when a child is searched," Blaine told The Gleaner yesterday.
"An incident that may not affect an adult psychologically or emotionally could easily traumatise a child, and that's why children are always treated differently."
A complaint was filed with the Airports Authority last week following a search carried out by a female security officer, according to the mother, whose identity has been withheld to protect the child.
The mother noted in an email to Lieutenant Commander John McFarlane, head of aviation security at the NMIA, that following an upper-body pat-down search by a female officer, the child was asked to remove her pants and underwear.
The mother, who said the child's father was not allowed to be present for the search, wrote: "(The officer) then questioned her about her menses, then told her to reclothe herself."
Investigation complete
McFarlane told The Gleaner yesterday that the investigation being carried out by the Airports Authority is complete, but he would prefer to speak with the child's parents before divulging any information.
Meanwhile, the online community is also speaking out against the search being carried out without a guardian being present.
In commenting on last week's article, online reader, Verna Kitson, posted: "...I am glad this mother brought the story to the public's attention, and she should not rest until she gets some sort of justice for her daughter."
Yesterday, Children's Advocate Mary Clarke told The Gleaner that she would make no further comment on the situation until all required investigations have been carried out by her office.