For God’s sake stop using children as pawns

FATHER CLYDE HARVEY made a stirring appeal yesterday to the kidnappers of six-year-old Mark Prescott to immediately and safely return the child to his family.

“We are appealing to whoever is responsible to stop using our children as pawns. I am appealing to the kidnappers to make sure that the child is well treated and returned immediately to the family he loves,” he said. Fr Harvey, manager of the San Fernando Boys’ RC school, who spoke to the media yesterday at the school compound, added: “Anybody who is thinking of using a child, for God’s sake stop it!” The Second Year pupil, son of Wayne Prescott, an off-shore worker, was snatched after his school was dismissed on Wednesday. Hours later kidnappers contacted the child’s father demanding a $150,000 ransom for his safe return.

Harvey said the school has been conducting hourly prayer sessions for Prescott’s safe return, adding that it was a “trying time” for everyone. He said the Ministry of Education has since provided professional counselling for the pupils. Asked whether the school security had been improved, he said, principal Michael Guerra, would have to comment on that. Guerra declined to comment saying that the Ministry of Education instructed them not to speak with the media.  School bus driver, Margaret Pierre, who first discovered the child missing told Newsday that she arrived at the school before it was dismissed.

Pierre, who has been transporting the child to school for the past six months, said she did not see Precott walking out of the school with the other children. “First I thought he got confused and went into a wrong car. But I checked and could not find him,” she recalled. Pierre said she asked the other children who told her that he was “copying down work in his class.” The bus driver said she the went to Precott’s classroom and inquired from the teacher about the child’s whereabouts. “She said she gave him back his copy book and he left the classroom.” Pierre said she had a close relationship with Prescott and described him as being a very nice, smart and brave child. Meanwhile at Precott’s home, at Edinburg Crescent, Scotland Drive, Cocoyea Village, San Fernando, relatives refused to speak with the media for security reasons. The Anti-Kidnapping Squad is continuing investigations.