Cops rescue children

The children, ages seven to 14, have been placed in the care of social services until investigations are completed.

When the officers arrived at the home, at about 3.30 pm, they met the children crawling through a hole in the fence in order to get into the compound.

The gate was padlocked and the children could not get in when they arrived from school. Police stopped the children and got their help to contact caretaker Crystal Ross. The children, six girls and four boys, were all dressed in the uniforms of Mt Pleasant Government Primary School. The children complained of being hungry and thirsty and were fed a meal by Claxton Bay/ Pointe-a-Pierre councillor Harold Rambharath.

Bruises and scars covered their hands and legs and their uniforms were very dirty. They told the police they usually crawled though the fence to gain access inside the compound.

Police said they received reports that the children were being sexual molested, beaten, and lived in unsanitary conditions. One officer recalled a report that a man had promised one of the girls a bathing suit if she allowed him to touch her. Principal of the Mount Pleasant Government Primary School Meryl De Coteau also reported to the police that the children only returned to school this month.

At about 4.30 pm, Ross arrived and the children greeted her with hugs.

She told police she was hired to take care of children between 4 pm and 6 am.

The 22-year-old woman admitted to police that the children were not treated properly. She said the children’s diet consists of pet rice. Police said the children would be placed in separate institutions.