CDA to do more community intervention to protect child seen being beaten in viral video

The Child Development Agency (CDA) has announced that it intends to do further work in the St. Thomas community featured in a video in which a woman is seen beating her 12 year old daughter with a machete.

Rosalee Gage Grey, Chief Executive Officer of the CDA, confirmed that the agency has determined that more work is needed to engage the family and community in detecting future psychological issues which may emerge.  

The video surfaced on the weekend showing the woman striking the child.

The police later stated that the incident took place several months ago.

While the 44 year-old woman remains in custody, the police, the Children's Advocate and the Child Development Agency are conducting investigations into the incident.

Mrs. Gage Grey, speaking Monday on RJR’s Beyond the Headlines, observed that the release of  the video has caused a ripple effect in the community.

“The child was counselled today (Monday) by our clinical psychologist and we did go into the community to do some initial assessment, and we’re seeing the need for further community work,” she reported.

The fact that the video in question has been widely viewed via social media adds to the psycho-social pressure that the child will face in the local community and at school, she said, hence the need to intervene further in the community.