Weeks after the military and police stormed Tivoli Gardens in Western Kingston in search of fugitive Christopher Coke; scores of traumatised children from the community have been given the royal treatment in the resort town of Negril, Westmoreland.
The event was coordinated by the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association's Negril Chapter in its bid to help restore normality to the lives of the affected children.
It was an appreciative group of parents and children who turned up at the Kool Runnings Water Park in Negril Wednesday.
The children were given a motivational talk en route the venue, then entertained and treated by the various hotels, in addition to all day rides at the water park.
The experience was so fulfilling that it took nearly half an hour to locate a child who was reluctant to return to Tivoli Gardens.
Others said they too wished they did not have to go back.
Scores of children were traumatised by the violence in May which left over 70 persons dead and several homes destroyed.
One mother told us her child is still behaving abnormally.
“When they see the security forces they are scared and run because most of them have never experienced something like this. I wish to God that this will not happen again,” she said.
Head of the JHTA Negril Chapter Evlyn Smith says after seeing the effects of the situation in Tivoli and its environs on the children, they felt compelled to assist.
One hundred and forty children and 70 care givers benefited from Wednesday's activities.
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