Women charged for using infants to beg
Two women are currently in police custody after they were slapped with various charges including cruelty to a child, after they were caught using infants to beg for money.
According to a report from the Corporate Communications Unit, the St Ann police observed the accused last Friday in St Ann’s Bay begging money to feed two infants.
They were questioned by the police and it was discovered that they took the babies from their mothers and travelled to St Ann to beg money.
The women were subsequently taken into custody and charged, and were brought before the St Ann Parish Court on Tuesday.
This incident is said to be part of a scheme where parents rent out their children to be part of a child begging ring. Both mothers were also served with summons to appear before the court on October 3.
CRIME
The infants, a girl and a boy, are currently in state care. The Child Protection and Family Services Agecny (CPFSA) has also launched an investigation into the matter.
According to Rochelle Dixon, CPFSA public relations and communication manager, while the agency has got numerous reports about children begging in the streets, it was the first time it heard they are being rented to carry out the act.
She said adults are using creative ways to get money, as “if people see children with them, people will give them something”.
“We know the usual stop light in Ochi, Marcus Garvey (Drive), Half-Way Tree, Waterloo Road and Hope Road. They were doing it at Three Miles but because of the roadworks, they migrated. The investigative officer spoke to the mothers and one of them admitted to it, while the other said she had no idea that her child was in St Ann,” she said.
Children’s Advocate Diahann Gordon Harrison said she is outraged by incidents like this, as they expose children to potential dangers.
“These children are out in the streets, which is a public space, where all types of things happen, such as they could be hit by a vehicle, kidnapped or may come in contact with someone who may harm them,” she said. “If it is fear that is causing them (parents) to do these acts, they need to reach out, whether in confidence or otherwise to the relevant authorities so that an intervention can be made on their behalf. This practice is inappropriate and indeed child exploitation, and they need to desist from this with immediate effect.
Another thing that needs to be identified is women who date married men and encourage their child/children to call this man Dad.
Women need to protect their children and if you can’t protect them mentally, the critical path of their development. So sad on many levels. I heard recently of a situation, the child has her Dad (involved too)but was calling the mother partner, a married man, Dad and now she has a baby for the married man. The married man not in their life now and the mother making remarks about how the child school is affected and misses him. Their current child is who the married is responsible for and not the other child. Do you all see the damage here. Because of money women mess up their children life. Young lady, did you realized that this man was married and did you forget that the child has a father!!?? The man did not leave his wife, never dated you 100% actually you were not even the only woman he was dating. But you never protected your daughter knowing the obvious situation.
So let us all assist and encourage good mental state of mind. Develop the children of tomorrow to be strong and independent.
The old time way needs to come back into play, where the community assist with the development of children.
Met, create a open discussion on this. Women need to protect their children and if they cannot, protect themselves from having children. Stop using money to cloud their judgements.
Yep, they are rampant in Ochi, especially in front of KFC, the Fontana parking lot and General Foods parking lot. I’ve only encountered little girls, between 10-12 years old abd they seem so pitiful. They especially target foreigners who don’t know what’s going on.
Send them all to jail because they don’t want to work. Some of people who can plant a little garden don’t wanna do shit except steal. Even finding a job, they wait for you to look work and beg a day or two then steal your job.