Reporter
carisa.lee@cnc3.co.tt
The two-year-old child seen in a social media video being kicked to the floor by a close female relative is in the care of the Children’s Authority.
Director Sheldon Cyrus said an emergency response team that works collaboratively with the Child Protection Unit of the T&T Police Service (TTPS) responded to the report and immediately went to the Caroni Savannah Road location where the incident occurred. The child, who was injured in the attack, was taken for medical attention.
Head of the TTPS Special Victims Department Superintendent Claire Guy-Alleyne said no one has yet been charged but up to late yesterday a woman was in police custody and helping with the investigation.
The video, which surfaced on social media on Tuesday, shows a woman screaming at the child to get up, before picking up and then kicking the toddler to the ground.
“Get up, get up,” she shouted at the two-year-old, who remained curled up on the floor after the attack.
A person off camera comments: “Is a little child you kicking dey. What you kicking the child for? You tripping off?”
Guy Alleyne said she asked the Children’s Authority to do a home assessment to ensure the woman did not have any other children in her custody.
In a press release yesterday Minister responsible for Gender and Child Affairs Ayanna Webster-Roy said there is absolutely no excuse for any form of abuse of a child.
“I am extremely saddened by a recent video that is circulating of a child being brutally abused by an adult female,” she said.
Webster-Roy advised families: “Knowing that you or a family member needs help and reaching out for that help is a critical step in preventing unwanted consequences.”
Webster Roy and Cyrus praised the man whose voice is heard in the video for “seeing something and saying something.” They encouraged the rest of the population to do the same.
Webster-Roy said the man’s action ensured swift and decisive action by the relevant agencies that resulted in the child being taken into care and given urgent medical and other care services.
The public can report and seek support from the relevant authorities, including the National Family Services Division at 623-2608 (ext. 6701-6711) the Police Service (999), the Children’s Authority Hotline (996 or 800-2014), Childline 131 or 800-4321, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-save (7283).