Five-year-old burnt at St Dominic’s Home

A five-year-old who is a ward of the St Dominic’s Children Home in Belmont suffered severe burns to his back and hands after hot water was thrown on him by a 12-year-old of the same home.

The matter is now engaging the attention of the Children’s Authority and the Child Protection Unit.

On October 16, the victim was preparing for a bath when the 12-year-old was given a bucket containing hot water by Khadisha Burke, a nurse employed at the St Dominic’s home. The boy was told to take the bucket containing the water to a bathroom so that the water could be mixed with some cold water to bathe the five-year-old.

It is alleged the 12-year-old opted to pour the hot water on the back of the five-year-old causing the child to scream out in pain. Nurses who ran to the boy’s assistance discovered that he was severely burnt and arrangements were made to take him to the Port-of-Spain General hospital for treatment.

The incident allegedly occurred on October 16 but was not reported to Belmont police until November 1.

No explanation was given by psychiatrist for the home Petra Ramsubhag or Burke for the delayed reporting of the incident.

However, the police were told that the matter was being probed by the Children’s Authority.

Sources revealed the five-year-old is recuperating slowly. Social and welfare workers at the home said they were not permitted to speak with the press.

Manager of the home, Sister Arlene Greenidge said yesterday she could not divulge any details about the incident but said it was reported promptly to the Children’s Authority.

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