A father is making a public plea for the safe return of his son, who was taken to the United States by his maternal grandmother under the guise that the then six-year-old would be brought back to the island at the end of the 2018 summer holidays.
The child, whose identity is being withheld by this newspaper, was taken overseas to spend time with his mother, Lacy-Ann Raymond, who migrated there in 2016.
For the child’s father, Desmond McKenzie, what was to be a one-month visit has turned into a three and a half year nightmare and protracted legal battle to have his son back in his care.
“I need to see my son. I need to speak with him. I need to know that he is okay. I didn’t know it would have been so difficult for me to even speak with my son, and I’ve tried so many mediums,” McKenzie said, indicating that he last spoke to his son in December 2018 when he turned seven years old.
So far, the 41-year-old told The Gleaner that he has exhausted all legal means to regain custody of his child, obtaining interim Supreme Court orders in December 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Further, he also made contact with the Child Protection and Family Services Agency, which indicated to him in an email seen by The Gleaner that they could only obtain an order for access because the Hague Convention, which is an international agreement in place to ensure the safe return of a child that has been abducted by one parent, did not take effect in Jamaica until April 1, 2019.
The Portland resident has also taken his grouse to the Superior Court of New Jersey, the state of Lacy Raymond’s last known address, where a warrant has been issued for her arrest because of her failure to attend the court proceedings and return the child to his father in Jamaica.
McKenzie said that the ordeal has caused him great mental anguish, having first discovered Raymond’s plan after receiving a phone call from his son at the end of August 2018.
“It’s like actually a part of me is missing. A very huge chunk of my life gone, you know. It has affected me a whole lot,” McKenzie said.
“I’ve been to the doctor, I’m not sleeping, I’m restless, and to make matters worse, when she first told him that she was not coming back to Jamaica … he called me on WhatsApp and he was saying ‘Daddy, you know Mommy said she not taking me back? I don’t know what she talking about. Are you coming to get me?” he said, recounting the conversation he had with his son.
Following this conversation, McKenzie said that he received a WhatsApp message from Raymond, where she stated her intention.
“I’m not obligated to explain anything to you guys, and if we could just keep it civil for the sake of the child, I would appreciate it. [Name redacted] missed you all and need to speak to you, so he is going to cry, so give him a chance to express himself,” the message read.
It continued: “He isn’t allowed to give out his school name nor his home address so please don’t ask him. You will be able to speak to him from time to time. His phone is not working, so he will have to use mine.”
McKenzie is now awaiting April 29, 2020, when his substantive claim will be heard by the court.
You need to Petition US District court (Federal Court) and only then will you receive justice. A federal warrant will have federal marshals hunting her in the US. Good luck.
We tend to always blame Jamaican men, without realizing that a lot of women have always gotten away with much.
What’s done in the dark will eventually come to the light… I had a similar situation back in 2002 and trust me.. even when me see anything for a baby boy.. wether it be clothes ,Pampers or even baby powder I usto just breakdown..it took a lot of prayer, fasting and focus to bring me and my son out of it… He’s now 18 and I communicate with him daily and his mother don’t know her head from. Her toe.. judgement no nice… And the wicked judgement no normal…. Praying for u my brother… Stand firm
Yeah..but what cause all a dis in the 1st place? This story too 1 sided for me and I know from experience that even the so called nicest of men are cold and evil..Things are not always as it seems inside compared to when couples portray a fairytale on the outside..Trust me!!
Exactly, I want to hear the other side,
Exactly so, I would really want to hear her side of the story.
There is more to this story. :siul I feel his pain but women usually behave this way when they have been wronged. With that said, unless he was a danger to the child, she is dead wrong. If you tried that sh*t here, they would sound an Amber Alert and charge her a$$ for kidnapping.
Women will also behave this way when they are BITTER. Im speaking as a woman who is the child of one such woman. A lot of kids grow up thinking they have deadbeat dads when in reality what they have are bitter moms.
I agree. That’s definitely a possible scenario
Men/Fathers are equal in the parenting of there children, another woman that believes because she gave birth to the child it’s her child, and the rights of the father don’t matter, another child raised without a father, this should not be allowed. This woman has no right to take this man’s child from him, she is a criminal. This woman is selfish and insensitive to the son’s needs, and the father of this child. The laws need to change to protect the rights of everyone involved, this is women should be locked up for kidnapping this child period. I know there are two sides to every story, but to take a child from a parent isn’t the answer. Remember his truth, her truth and GOD’S truth. I hope this all works out for the child’s sake.