Earlier this year, two 14-year-old girls faced similar fate
as 12 year old Jamelia Johnson. According to a report “Santoya Campbell, a
14-year-old Westmoreland girl, went missing on January 26 and her body was
found, two days later, stuffed in garbage bags under a bridge. According to grief-stricken relatives, Santoya, who was a
grade eight student of Frome Technical High, did not reach school after leaving
her home early the morning she went missing. Following a post-mortem it was
found out that Santoya was pregnant.
Similarly, another 14-year-old girl, identified as Kayalicia
Simpson of St Thomas, was hacked to death and her mutilated body dumped metres
from her house on March 3. Police reported that about 5:00 am that day, the
grade eight student went outside her house as she prepared for school. About
half-an-hour later her body was found lying face down in bushes close to the
one-room wooden structure in which she lived” (Jamaica Observer, April 25,
2015).
Now we turn our attention to another child, whose nude body
was found in bushes close to a river near her home in Williamsfield, near
Riversdale in the parish of St. Catherine. This begs the question, what is
happening in Jamaica? Why our children? An autopsy was done to determine of the
child was pregnant because that seems to be a trend. However, the results would
have us to believe that it was not so. Residents are simply getting frustrated
and need answers. All the government seems to be doing is sending condolences to
the bereaved family. That is not enough! We want to hear what is going to be
done about it. According to the report the people took matters in their own
hands.
“Yesterday, a group of angry residents, after learning about
the little girl's death, went to her family's home and set the house on fire.
The child's mother and grandmother were also attacked by the mob and had to be
escorted from the community by the police. The group claimed that it was
neglect by the family that led to the child's death.” (Jamaica Observer, April
25, 2015). Imagine that, people took matters in their own hands, and resort to
extreme measures because they are adamant that it was neglect by the parents
that led to the death of Jamelia. I would not say that I agree with their
approach, but I can say that I agree with and understand their frustration. This
goes to show that when the government fails to do what they need to, the people
will continue to behave in such manner.
Parents have been very neglectful and I think this cannot
continue. Santoya mother knew about the relationship with her daughter and the
man who took her life. What did she do about it? How many more houses will be
burnt down for parents to start being more responsible and caring? How many
more attacks by mobs will it take for parents to see that their neglect putting
Jamaica’s future is jeopardy? The people attacked the mother and grandmother,
was it justified? No. Was it the right approach? No. Then what is?
It is quite sad that this is what it has come to. My heart
aches just thinking about our children. What happens next? What does the word
safe means? What about protection? Does it mean anything to us as a society? Will
it ever stop? Will it be a new trend that just pass by? Will it be a case where
every death of a child cause a national outcry, then that’s it? We need to
check ourselves. Each of us has a role to play, so let us play it.
