Father fights for custody of daughters

STEPHEN RENNIE, 40, is trying to get custody of his two daughters, 11-year-old Jenella and nine-year-old Diana, who have been staying at the St Mary’s Home in Tacarigua for more than a year. Last Saturday, he received the news that Diana was sent to St Ann’s Hospital and Jenella to St Jude’s Home in Belmont. Rennie said he was not notified by the Home at the time. He told Newsday that he visited his children regularly and the Home had a telephone number to  contact him. Rennie said he is the nephew of former Police Commissioner Hilton Guy. He said his wife died of acute leukemia colitis in November 1995 and this left him “traumatised.” He went into a period of depression and lost interest in life. Rennie said he made an arrangement for the girls to stay with his mother-in-law in Sangre Grande and admitted he did not keep in regular contact with them because parting was very difficult. A doctor also advised him to  get his strength back before having regular ties with his daughters. Rennie said he did not attempt to get custody of Jenella and Diana sooner because he was not employed and lived in a small, one room dwelling.

In February, he decided to visit the girls in Sangre Grande to take them out to a family day with other relatives. It was then that Rennie found out from his wife’s sister that his mother-in-law had died, the house was sold and his daughters had been sent to the St Mary’s Home. He went to the Home in March thinking he would be able to resume contact when he made it known that he was their father. Rennie said he showed his identification card as proof. Instead, he was advised by a member of staff to speak to the welfare officer. During the meeting, the officer could provide no details about Jenella and Diana since they did not have a probation report. Rennie said he wanted to get his daughters out of the Home and secure custody. He was advised to write the Chief probation officer and the Home, providing copies of his wife’s death certificate, and birth certificates for his daughters. He also began visiting fortnightly.

Rennie thought the process to get custody was progressing when a probation officer visited his home on June 16 to see its condition. Last Saturday, Rennie went to the Home with snacks, apples, grapes, chicken and chips, and items of clothing for Jenella and Diana. He had good news for his daughters about the visit by the probation officer. However, Rennie said he was told by the deputy manager at the Home that Diana was sent to St Ann’s because of “seizures” and Jenella to St Jude’s. Rennie said this happened after an incident in which a member of staff accused Diana of assault. He had been visiting for three months and had not received complaints about indiscipline. Rennie said he has been following the advice given to him and going through all the procedures necessary to gain custody of his children. He is prepared to meet all the requirements of the authorities to have his children live with him as a family. “One take in with madness and one take in with badness, at the same time?”

He said a minor cannot be sent to St Ann’s without a probation officer’s report or consent from the family. Rennie has gone to the National Family Services (NFS) in the Social Services Delivery office with the hope of getting redress. He was advised to write Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister responsible for Social Services Delivery, Senator Christine Kangaloo to intervene. Rennie has also consulted a lawyer about the issue. When Newsday contacted the Home, manager Patricia Martin said she was not at liberty to give out information on the matter. She referred Newsday to the Social Services Delivery Department in the Office of the PM. An official of the Family Services section told Newsday attempts are being made to have the girls reunited with their father.