Boy, 4, shot at preschool needs child-sized wheelchair

The four-year-old boy who was shot in the leg when gunmen started shooting outside his preschool in Malick on September 25 needs a child-sized wheelchair.

The boy was among three people injured when gunmen killed two men outside of Roxann's Learning and Childhood Centre in Malick, Barataria.

Newsday spoke with principal Roxann King on October 2 for an update on the child's health as well as the plans to temporarily relocate the preschool.

She said, "He is resting at home comfortably. His foot is in a cast until the bone mends back together.
"We are trying to locate a child-sized wheelchair in the meantime."

The two murdered men on September 25 were identified as Gerald Caliste and Kemo Caliste.

A police report said around 8 am on September 25, Gerald was standing outside the school when a car stopped, two gunmen got out and started shooting.

He was hit several times and died at the scene. Gerald's mother later identified his body at the scene.

Kemo, who was shot several times, ran into the preschool in an attempt to escape the hail of bullets. He later died at hospital while being treated.

On September 27, MP Laventille East/Morvant Adrian Leonce visited King at the preschool. He said he had been organising with King and had two alternative locations in mind for the temporary relocation.

On October 2, King said they were still negotiating with one of the locations and hoped for a response by October 9.

The preschool remains closed, but King said she is in constant communication with the parents and their children.

Hours after the shooting on September 25, Snr Supt Mervyn Edwards said, "The North-Eastern Division Victim and Witness Support Unit was contacted and will provide the necessary support to the family of the victims and teachers, parents and children of the school, in the aftermath of the incident."

King said the first counselling session with the parents and students took place at the preschool on October 1.

"We had our first trauma therapy session with the police and it was a really productive session.

"The children are resilient, because to them, it was just like fireworks."

King said many of the parents are now in the anger stage of trauma.

"The trauma team said they would not just walk away, they'll keep in contact ,and when we relocate, they'll have continuous sessions with us."

Newsday asked King if she could explain what the session entailed.

"It was an interactive and open session, seeing it was the first time the parents' body met since the incident."

King said she is doing much better now.

"I have the support of the community, my staff, parents, as well as my church community, so I'm coping.

"I was very happy to see my children yesterday (October 1) and get to hug them and kiss them."