Mt Alvernia Prep family happy with return of student

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

It was all rejoicing and thanksgiving at Mount Alvernia Preparatory School in St James yesterday as teachers reacted with glee to the news that the three-year-old student who was abducted on Tuesday was rescued.

"The teachers met early today and we are all so happy and relieved," said Angela McPherson, principal of the school.

"There was a lot of rejoicing and giving thanks to God for returning the child to his parents safely."

The little boy was rescued shortly before daybreak yesterday by a police unit which had begun tracking the kidnappers shortly after he was abducted on the grounds of the school compound. The recovery took place in Manchester.

"No praise is too high for the police and our school security company, which jointly worked right through the night until the child was found," said McPherson.

"We are now here giving God thanks that he was not harmed and is now safely back with his family."

The Jamaica Constabulary Force yesterday said six persons - three males and three females - were taken into custody after personnel from the St James Police Division found the boy in Bailiston, Manchester.

While classes were suspended at the school yesterday on account of the incident, there was an emergency staff meeting in the morning and a meeting of school's board of governors in the afternoon.

move to reassure parents

A parent-teacher association (PTA) meeting is scheduled for this morning.

"The PTA meeting tomorrow is basically to reassure the parents that we will be doing everything in our power to prevent a recurrence of this incident," McPherson said.

"I am sure there are many questions the parents will want to ask us and we intend to give them all the reasurrance they might want," she added.

Meanwhile, businessman Henry McCurdy, the People's National Party caretaker for the North West St James constituency in which the school is located, shared the relief of the school community and was also full of praise for the vigilance shown by the police.

"Based on what I have heard, the police did a remarkable job and should be commended," he said.