THE ST Elizabeth police have charged four men for allegedly abusing eight American children at a private boarding school for troubled teens in the parish. Last month, the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) disclosed that it removed the boys from the Atlantis Leadership Academy in Treasure Beach following an unannounced visit on February 8 during which “signs of abuse and neglect” were reportedly observed on the children. The accused men, who are all from St Elizabeth, have been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, cruelty to a child and assault at common law. They are thirty-nine-year-old Eddison Morris from Great Bay district, 51-year-old Courtney Wiggan and 33-yearold Carson Cox, both from Sandy Bank community and footballer Odane Maswell, 31, from Holland Village district, according to a police statement issued Saturday. A fifth person is in custody however his identity is being withheld pending further investigations. The boys were aged 14 to 18. Representatives from the US Embassy in Kingston participated in the visit. Most of them remain in Jamaican custody. Their families have been mounting a campaign for their release. American business woman and media personality Paris Hilton said she was outraged and horrified by the allegations, following a visit to Treasure Beach on Wednesday. “Hundreds of thousands of youth experience this horror today, and I am dedicated to eliminating child abuse and neglect in youth residential programmes,”said Hilton, who was in Jamaica to advocate and support the boys’ return to the US. “These boys came into the world expecting love and nurturing but instead, have faced absolute terror.” Seven of the teens were placed in residential childcare facilities, while an 18-year-old, who aged out of the children’s court jurisdiction, was returned to the United States in February. THE MONTHLY GLEANER | APRIL 11 - MAY 11, 2024 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 4 [NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED] Jhaneille Esson (second left), captain of St Jago High School’s Television Jamaica Schools’ Challenge Quiz team, holds the trophy aloft with team members (from left) Nathaniel Baker, Kevandra Blake and Jermaine Miller at Television Jamaica’s studios at Broadcast House on Lyndhurst Road in St Andrew at the end of Thursday night’s 2024 final of the competition. IAN ALLEN Four charged over alleged abuse of American boys at Treasure Beach private school questions answered. When it just started there were panel discussions but now there are breakout groups that have more extensive exchanges regarding the issues, she said. Addressing reports from several Jamaican Canadians that there is no follow up or progress report at the conferences and the same things are repeated at them, the high commissioner said: “I think what has happened is that we need to do more to strengthen awareness and information sharing. Coming out of these conferences we have had the Diaspora Policy that has been developed, that is based on what has been discussed and has come forth.” She said for those who are giving back through health or education, they have now set up deliberate offices so there is someone who manages all donations that come under the health remit as well as in education. Coore Lobban said a report from the Regional Jamaica Diaspora Conference held in Toronto in September 2023 was sent to Jamaica and is helping to influence the agenda of the biennial conference, the issues to be discussed, and includes a roadmap and a score card. “This year, there will be a score card for some of the achievements coming out of all the conferences that have been held.”On June 17, a report card on diaspora achievements from 2003 to 2024 will be shared at the conference. The high commissioner said that during her previous role in the Jamaican Foreign Service, she realised that a lot has taken place to carry out the recommendations, “but this has not been shared.” Her mission is to get the information out and ensure that individuals are engaged. She further encouraged Jamaicans in Canada to reach out if they are not seeing specific things or hearing back. Coore Lobban said diasporans in the city of Montreal have identified Black River High School in St. Elizabeth as needing upgrades to its bathrooms. She said that based on monthly meetings of a group consisting of community leaders and honorary consuls they are looking to have one project that they will identify as their Canada legacy project that they can give back to the community for the Jamaica Diaspora Day. “It is my hope working through the organisations’ leaders that the information will be shared with their membership because we won’t be able to reach everyone.” The high commission will be holding satellite launches for the conference with plans for a calendar of events happening in Jamaican communities throughout Canada, as well as monthly webinars. The high commissioner also noted that a diaspora council member from Europe has proposed a Jamaica Mentorship Diaspora Academy initiative to help students from grade six to sixth form. DIASPORA Continued from, 3
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