Boy in duck pen needs counselling

RESCUED:This 14 year old boy was rescued by
officers of the Children⁳ Authority after social media posts revealed him being abused by family members who slashed him across the wrist. PHOTO BY ANSEL JEBODH
RESCUED:This 14 year old boy was rescued by officers of the Children⁳ Authority after social media posts revealed him being abused by family members who slashed him across the wrist. PHOTO BY ANSEL JEBODH

UPDATE:

THE family now caring for a 16-year-old special needs child, who was rescued from a life of squalor and abuse in January, is calling for him to receive counseling. The boy was removed from his mother’s home on January 31, by officers of the Children’s Authority.

The boy’s aunt and caretaker says although he is showered with love and affection daily, he reacts in fear whenever he is spoken to sternly or is corrected. The woman, who has cared for the boy most of his life, said it hurts her to see his reaction.

“Anytime we talk to him sternly, he will get scared and pull away or try to get away. I requested counselling for him from the Children’s Authority but up to now, no one has heeded my requests,” the woman said. “They call me regularly but I believe they should visit him more and really give him some serious counselling as he needs it.”

The boy started living with his mother last June. Within several weeks, he was being beaten daily and made to sleep among ducks. Neighbors highlighted his plight on social media and it was then the authority intervened and removed him from the house. He was taken to his aunt’s home, where he is being taught to read, write and to take care of his body.

“My husband bathes him, brushes his teeth, teaches him how to scrub his body because his hands are not strong enough for him to brush his teeth. We are doing everything we can to help him but he needs more help. What he went through was very traumatic and he needs counselling.” She said the boy has the mental capacity of a much younger child and is learning at the same level as her three-year-old daughter.

She is hoping to enroll him in classes at the National Centre for Persons with Disabilities, but without his birth certificate, she cannot register him. Contacted for comment, Children Authority chairman Hanif Benjamin sent out a release stating the authority has been in contact with the boy’s caregivers on a weekly basis.

“During one of the sessions by staff of the authority, a parenting training session was conducted to provide the family with basic tools to stabilise the child in his new environment. An assessment of the child’s needs was also conducted to identify the range of support services he will require,” the release stated.

“Since these services are not provided by the authority, referrals have been made to the relevant agencies that can address the child’s developmental and therapeutic needs. The authority will continue to maintain contact with the child’s caregivers and provide the necessary support, where appropriate and possible.”

ORIGINAL STORY

The 16-year-old special needs child who was rescued from a life of squalor and abuse in January needs counselling.

The boy’s aunt and caretaker says although he is showered with love and affection daily he reacts in fear whenever he is spoken to sternly or corrected.

The woman, who had cared for the boy for most of his life, said it hurts her to see his reaction.

“Anytime we talk to him sternly, he will get scared and pull away or try to get away, I had requested counselling for him from the Children’s Authority but up until now, no one has heeded my requests,” she said.

The boy had started living with his mother last June. Within several weeks, he was being beaten daily and made to sleep among ducks.

Neighbours highlighted his plight on social media and it was then the Children’s Authority intervened and removed him from the house.

He was taken to his aunt’s home, where he is being taught to read, write and to take care of his body.

“My husband bathes him, brushes his teeth, teaches him how to scrub his body because his hands are not strong enough to brush his teeth, we are doing everything we can to help him but he needs more help. What he went through was very traumatic and he needs counselling.”

Contacted for a comment, Children’s Authority chairman, Haniff Benjamin said he will look into the teen’s case and provide an update sometime today.

This story will be updated when more information becomes available.

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