Children's Advocate calls for thorough probe into shooting of child in Sligoville incident

 

 

Children's Advocate Diahann Gordon Harrison is calling for a thorough investigation into how a 10-year-old child was wounded in the stand-off between security forces and gunmen at a house in Sligoville, St. Catherine on Friday.

 

She is in serious condition in hospital.

 

Mrs. Gordon Harrison says the circumstances surrounding the incident are deeply troubling.

 

She expressed concern that the child has been left to grapple with both physical injuries and emotional trauma.

 

"The worst has happened in that the child has suffered serious injury. We understand that she remains in very serious and critical condition and we only hope that she can pull through and pull through to have a quality of life that is deserving of her having a chance to have been protected, to have not been exposed to such extreme forms of violence and, of course, to not being forced to be in a situation that jeopardised her safety. I, of course, condemn the incident. We look for very clear answers as to what in fact transpired, particularly in relation to this particular child," said the Children's Advocate.

 

Advocacy group, Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) has also expressed deep concern over the shooting of the 10-year-old.

 

The JFJ said it awaits the findings from the Independent Commission of Investigations and further information from the police, including the circumstances that resulted in the little girl being caught in the exchange of gunfire.

 

There are conflicting reports that the child was shot in the crossfire and that she was shot by her father.

 

Two policemen died from their wounds in Friday's incident, along with three suspects.

 

The Police High Command said the cops were shot when the suspects lured them into a trap under the guise of rescuing a child.