–after reports of abuse at city daycare

THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is in the process of investigating reports of child abuse at its South Road Daycare Centre, which caters for children between the ages of nine months and five years.

The issue was deliberated upon at the statutory meeting on Monday, where Town Clerk, Royston King, issued a call for both the children and teachers of that facility to be insured individually, following reports of scratches and other marks on some of the children.

Already, King noted, there are some parents who are claiming compensation for marks found on their children.

Although King’s suggestion regarding insurance did not gain much support from councillors, he said that without such a safeguard in place, the Council remains vulnerable to the parents’ reports of abuse against their children.

Councillor Monica Thomas said she could not understand the need for insurance, as the issue has more to do with proper supervision. The incidents resulting in marks and scratches should not even happen in the first place, she noted, if the teachers are doing a good job at supervising and monitoring the kids.

Councillor Andrea Marks suggested that instead of putting the parents and Council in expense to get insurance, the M&CC could divert such resources to strengthening the staff capacity at the daycare centre.

Councillor Bishram Kuppen queried whether the issue actually had to do with abuse, or whether it was as a result of the deplorable conditions of the building itself. Insurance would be necessary, he said, if the children are being housed in deplorable conditions.

But the Town Clerk responded that the matter had nothing to do with the actual building, but of reports of abuse.

Mayor Patricia Chase-Green called for detailed information into the matter, in light of the fact that the Council could be sued if a child loses an arm or limb.

Meanwhile, a source told this newspaper that in one instance, after investigations, it was found that the marks on one child’s skin originated from home.