‘I just want back my son’ - Holiday season was brutal for missing Manchester boy’s mom

At 12:01 a.m. on Thursday when most persons were welcoming the New Year with fireworks and celebration, Andrene Peart had only one wish and that was to be reunited with her missing son Jayden Smith.

"I am down on my face and I cannot eat or sleep. I am praying that Jayden would dream mi and give mi a sign but all I am getting is nightmares. It has been three months and counting and every night mi just pray for a vision but it nah happen. Mi son just go school and nuh come home back and mi don't know what happen," a distressed Peart said.

The Manchester police remain active in their search for the 12-year-old who has been missing since September 26. The youngster was last seen in Mandeville after leaving school. Jayden is of dark complexion, slim build and approximately 152 centimetres tall. His disappearance has triggered several peaceful protests and multiple searches, but all have so far turned up empty. His mother, however, said she remains optimistic that they will be reunited in the near future but said the wait for their reunion is extremely painful.

"I know one day I am going to see my son alive again because I refuse to believe that he is dead. My youngest child is three and if she see mi a cry she will ask mi if Jayden dead and mi always tell her no. I try my best not to cry around her," she said.

"Christmas Day mi cook some nice food and mi couldn't even eat because Jayden wasn't here. Mi share out him food like mi always do, but he wasn't there to eat it. People all offer mi things and I can't take it because mi feel bad to a guh tek tings and a enjoy myself and I don't know where my son is," Peart added.

As she and others continue to organise another peaceful protest on January 12 outside the gates of Manchester High School, Peart said she is pleading with the public to join in the search for her son.

"Mi still believe mi son is alive and anyone out there who knows where Jayden is please just let me know. Just help mi find him. Mi having a lot of nightmares. Not because mi did give him up to him auntie and him father means I don't love him. He is my son and I love and miss him. I am asking you all please to help mi find him," Peart said.