‘Leave the children alone’ she pleads

EDUCATION MINISTER Hazel Manning yesterday visited the family of six-year-old kidnap victim, Marc Prescott, and called on persons behind the spate of kidnappings in the country to stop targeting children. In expressing her concern about the children’s safety, the minister also called on parents to be more vigilant, and to teach their children to be careful around strangers. Speaking to reporters during an impromptu visit with Prescott’s family at their Cocoyea home yesterday, Manning charged: “I do not understand what all of this is about. Children are vulnerable. Leave them alone”. Manning said the purpose of her visit was to wish the child’s father, Wayne Prescott, and his family the best and to let them know that they were in her prayers. The minister also appealed to the child’s kidnappers to release Marc.

She added that parents should teach their children how to deal with strangers, and felt the community, parents, teachers and the Ministry should work together to ensure the safety of the children. Prescott’s father, Wayne, also begged his son’s captors to free Marc as soon as possible. Even though he has not heard from the kidnappers since last Thursday when they made a $150,000 ransom demand, Prescott was confident that God was keeping his son safe.