Wednesday, January 2 2013

The young woman who abandoned her newborn baby boy outside the St Mary’s Children’s Home in Tacarigua on December 23 was found at her Tacarigua home yesterday by a team of officers led by WCP Dick Francis.

The woman, 32, who is also the mother of two other children confessed to police that she gave birth to the baby boy on December 23 and because of financial hardships, took a decision to leave the newborn baby outside the St Mary’s Orphanage.

According to reports, officers led by WCP Dick Francis received key information on the whereabouts of the young woman on Old Year’s Day and after several searches, the woman was found at her mother’s home in company with her two young children.

When quizzed by officers, she admitted giving birth to the baby on the night of December 23 and said that after delivering the baby herself, she wrapped the little boy in a jersey and with the umbilical cord still protruding, she placed him gently outside the Orphanage hoping that someone would find him and take care of him. The weeping woman, who was taken to the Arouca Police Station by police offers yesterday, wept uncontrollably as she expressed remorse for her actions but said that because of frustration and financial constraints, she was forced into her decision. She even told officers that she grew up without a father and the man who fathered her baby boy abandoned her when she needed him most. Coupled with that, she complained about being frustrated by relatives who taunted her for getting pregnant especially when things were not stable in their home.

After giving a statement to officers of the Arouca Police Station yesterday, the woman was taken to a doctor where she was medically examined and it was confirmed that she recently gave birth.

The woman was also counselled yesterday by Snr Supt David Abraham of the Northern Division who told Newsday that it is likely that charges will be laid against the young woman. He said that having spoken to the suspect, it suggested to him that she is in dire need of counselling and lots of love. He added that every effort will be made by the police to provide some form of counselling to the young woman.

Also yesterday, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Wayne Dick, commended WCP Dick Francis for her round-the-clock effort in seeking out the mother of the abandoned baby. Dick also dispelled newspaper reports that the abandoned baby was a girl and that she had been named Mary Therese by nurses at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex.

The baby was up until yesterday resting comfortably at the EWMSC and the state is yet to decide on the child’s future.

At about 10 pm on December 23, security guards at the St Mary’s Children’s Home in Tacarigua were alerted to the cries of a baby and on checking, found a newborn baby wrapped in a jersey. Officials of the Orphanage contacted the Arouca police and the baby was taken to the EWMSC for treatment.

Numerous requests have been made by members of the public to adopt the baby boy.