RETURN DI PPL DEM CHILDREN

CDA places children of poor St Ann couple in State care
Father says he’s lonely after kids taken by CDA
BY CONRAD HAMILTON Senior staff reporter [email protected]
Friday, March 30, 2012

THE Child Development Agency (CDA) has taken the five children in Stepney, St Ann, whose plight was highlighted in this Sunday’s publication of the Jamaica Observer.
The move comes amidst pledges of financial and other support from several Jamaicans — both here and in the diaspora — who read about the living conditions of Jonah Johnson, his common-law wife, Hyacinth Lewis, and the five children ages two, four, seven, eight and 10.
A section of the house in Stepney, St Ann which houses Jonah Johnson, his common-law wife and their five children.
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When contacted via phone yesterday, 40-year-old Johnson said personnel from the Government agency came to his house on Wednesday and informed him that the children had to be taken to a place of safety.
He said the officials advised him that the children would be returned whenever better living conditions become available. “Mi tell dem seh dem can’t tek dem like that, but the man seh him will lose him work if him don’t tek dem,” said Johnson, who indicated that he was feeling depressed and lonely.
Efforts by the Observer to obtain an update on the situation from the CDA were unsuccessful, as the official spokespersons were unavailable. However, representatives of the St Ann Parish Council confirmed that the children are now in State care.
Johnson is expressing hope that promises of assistance from Jamaicans who have read of their plight and from Food For the Poor and the Poor Relief Department will result in him being able to build a house to more comfortably accommodate the children.
Last week Wednesday, a team comprising member of parliament for South West St Ann, Keith Walford, representatives of three State entities and officials of Food For the Poor visited the family and were shocked by the poor living conditions of the two adults, three boys and two girls.
The tiny section of the rundown building which serves as home for the family has no bed and offers little comfort or protection from the elements.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Kids-rescued—CDA-places-children-of-poor-St-Ann-couple-in-State-care#ixzz1qcXdq6nJ