The Armadale Tragedy: Misuse of Power and Authority

The enquiry into the Armadale tragedy has revealed a very dark side of our being as a society.

The cruel and  inhumane treatment meted out to the children entrusted into the care of the government tears apart the very fabric of respect, love and justice.A very disturbing element that has also showed itself in the unraveling of this tragedy is the misuse of power and authority that has resulted in endemic incompetence and reckless management.

At the head of the stream there is the Children’s Advocate whose responsibility according to the New act is to “protect and enforce the rights of children  and promote  their well being and welfare.”

When the Children’s Advocate became aware of the overcrowded conditions prevailing at Armadale she did not pay a visit to the institution ,but held two meetings in relation to the issue to expedite the matter of reducing the number of children residing at the institution.Obviously, the Children ’s  Advocate was only concerned in reducing the number of children without seeing for herself the suffering of the children who lived in such cramped,unsafe quarters. The Act demands that the Children’s Advocate investigate situations deemed harmful to  children in care .Did she realise that the overcrowded conditions had far reaching consequences that would be very harmful to the children? She had the duty to go and see first hand the inhumane conditions in which the girls were living and report to Parliament.She failed to investigate and use the authority invested in her to bring about changes that would improve the lot of the children in that institution. The fact that she did not go shows a  lack of judgement in the performance of her duty and a misuse of her authority in this issue.Had she been to the institution  she would have heard of the prolonged ,inhumane “lock down” imposed on the girls. She would have spoken to the girls about their needs, their pains and suffering. She did not judge this visit necessary although the welfare of 23 girls depended on her personal assessment.In simple words she showed  incompetence that has contributed to the making of this terrible tragedy.Seven children  have died and nine have been maimed. So what! She is still employed and  life goes on. …

The Commisionner of Corrections knew that the dorm did not meet the international requirements but did nothing to stop the housing of 23 girls in that  particular makeshift dorm. The dorm is unsafe, but let us put the children there  anyway.She obviously did not have the best interest of the girls in mind when she participated in the decision making of housing the girls in the unsafe dorm.The shameful game of blame shifting and hiding behind the shades of responsibilities and duties is revolting.The superintendent devoid of any form of training for such an important job should according to the commisionner bear the brunt of the blame for housing the girls in the unsafe dorm.This attitude on the part of the commisionner very sadly spells out the blatant lack of love and respect due to our children and their God given rights to care and protection.The seven girls perished but she keeps her job. Life goes on….

The superintendent of Armadale feels completely shielded by her ignorance  having had no training for this position.Her profound lack of respect for the welfare and well being of the girls,however, allowed her to run a first class “JAMAICAN STALAG”. She did absolutely nothing to change the rules of prolonged “lock down”. She knew about the use of buckets instead of toilets.She knew the girls did not get enough food and ate with their hands while on “lock down”.She knew that there was only one exit door out of the dorm. She knew that girls slept on the floor in the bathroom . She knew that girls were deprived of the basic form of counselling, of activities meant to rehabilitate them. She knew that the girls did not have an academic program. She knew that the girls had no social contact outside of the contact with the other inmates.She knew that the girls did not receive proper medical care.  She had the duty to report the abuse meted out to the girls but did nothing about it. Seven girls died and nine are maimed so … Surely, she still has her job, gets her pay and again life goes on… 

The C.D.A  in charge of placement when children are sent to a Place of Safety  continues to feed the system regardless of the horrendous conditions.The fact that Armadale was overcrowded was nothing new.The children have to be placed. Behind bars or not;properly fed or not;educated or not ;counselled or not; rehabilitated or not; mentally ill and not treated or not; physically ill and not properly treated or not. So what! the job of placement is done. The executive staff is still employed. They are paid. Life goes on….

The police officer who threw the Han Ball grenade in the dorm is guilty of a very serious crime. His brutal act certainly contributed to the death of the seven girls and the maiming of several others.It was down right criminal.He knew that the girls were locked up in the dorm and could not have escaped the fumes. They were left there to suffocate and die.This is the most outrageous misuse of power and authority in this terrible tragedy. Noone has mentioned that the officer in question has been taken off regular duties pending the outcome of the proceedings so it is understood that he is working and getting his pay. The seven girls have died and life goes on….

The pernicious abuse of authority and power invested in the executive workers will continue to fester and imperil the lives of our children in care.Unfortunately, the political will needed to brave the troubled waters of reckless management and endemic incompetence is sadly lacking. No one cares about the treaties signed. No one cares about the Act. It is just paper work. Furthermore, these children are just “government pickney”.Their lives are expendable. Their numbers will never stop growing. After all ,poor people never stop “breed”. Place the children anywhere , anyway. Some will burn ,some will live. So it go! More will come! Life must go on…

When will we ever see justice for our children in care? TIME WILL TELL AND GOD NOT SLEEPING….

Remember, for every child we save is a man /a woman  of the future we save. Each one take one for a better Jamaica for a better world.

~ by jahteecha on September 10, 2009.