‘Troubled’ 10-y-o boy disappears

August 29, 2019
Ten-year-old Romaine Hunter, otherwise called ‘Navie’, who has been missing since August 25.
Ten-year-old Romaine Hunter, otherwise called ‘Navie’, who has been missing since August 25.
Karen Harris, the grandmother of Romaine Hunter, a 10-year-old boy who has been missing since Sunday, says she has already bought back-to-shool supplies for him and she wants him to come home.
Karen Harris, the grandmother of Romaine Hunter, a 10-year-old boy who has been missing since Sunday, says she has already bought back-to-shool supplies for him and she wants him to come home.
Karen Harris
Karen Harris
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At 10 years old, young Romaine Hunter has had a rough life. His parents were murdered in separate incidents before he was five, he has spent time in a child care facility, and has run away from home at least twice since the start of the year.

His grandmother, Karen Harris, says the boy has dreams of attending Kingston College and becoming a member of the Jamaica Defence Force. Slated to sit the PEP examinations next year, the McAuley Primary School student maintains a steady average, and, according to Harris, she is doing everything in her power to ensure he realises his dreams.

There is, however, a major problem. Nobody knows where to find Romaine. The boy has been missing since Sunday and efforts to locate him have so far been futile.

Reports from the Spanish Town police are that Romaine was last seen at the Hellshire Beach in the parish about 2:30 p.m. wearing a black merino and black shorts.

Residents say that Romaine's life has been unnecessarily rough. They theorise that he may have run away from home again, as he has been making it a habit.

"Is not two times him run away. Him run way more than seven times. Mi naah guh tell no lie, him get food and clothes. But them pressure him a lot, and beat him, so mi feel like a that's why him always a leave. Mi hope the authorities find him safe and sound and keep him in their care until him a 18," a woman said.

Denies claims

Harris, the boy's grandmother, is disputing the number of times he has run away. She said that he has only left twice, and denies claims that he is being abused.

Showing the news team the school supplies she has purchased, Harris said she has not rested well since Romaine's disappearance.

"I just want him to come home. He is usually like this whenever he does something wrong. Him usually go Hellshire because him have friends over there, but him frequent other places like Half-Way Tree and downtown (Kingston)," Harris said.

According to the grandmother, her son told her that Romaine did something wrong and that may be why he left home.

"Him probably think I was going to beat him, but I wasn't because the police and CDA (Child Protection and Family Services Agency) said I shouldn't hit him," she said.

She stated that her grandson ran away from home in February and spent a few days at the Maxfield Park Children's Home.

She said the youngster was picked up by the police in Papine, St Andrew, and taken to the home.

"He lied and told them that he lived on Eureka Road and he was sleeping on a verandah for three years because his parents are dead, and I was hospitalised, and was not coming out back. I eventually got him back a few days later," she said.

THE STAR also spoke to several residents who stated that although Harris ensured that he is properly fed and clothed, Romaine is badly in need of counselling, care, and protection.

Anyone knowing Romaine's whereabouts is being asked to contact the Spanish Town police at 876-984-2305, police 119 emergency number or the nearest police station.

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