Butlers wary of gov't burial assistance offer

The parents of eight-year old Kemeisha Butler said yesterday that they may not accept an offer from the Ministry of Education to provide financial assistance towards her burial.

“We turned them away because we can’t do nothing without our lawyer, and she has  to advise us and she don’t know about it," said Stephen Butler, the child's father.

The ministry said yesterday that it would help shoulder the cost of Kemeisha's funeral.

Normal Gesture

Byron Buckley, director of corporate communications the ministry, said the move to assist the family was a normal gesture for students who die under similar circumstances.

When quizzed how much, by way of burial expense, will be provided,  Buckley said  it will be dependent on the overall cost of the funeral as well as the amount provided by the Ministry of Labour.

The Port Henderson Primary School student died on March 8, while undergoing treatment at the Bustamante Hospital for Children.

It is alleged that she became ill after been punished by a teacher at the school.

Kemeisha will be laid to rest on Sunday April 24.

The education ministry said it has launched a probe into the circumstances surrounding Kemeisha’s death to determine whether or not her illness and subsequent death was attributed to curricular activities.