Another heartbreak - CPFSA issues warnings after back-to-back child drownings

A chilling warning is being issued to Jamaicans to ensure that their surroundings are safe for children.

The Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) is sounding the alarm following the heartbreaking drowning of nine-year-old Samuel Clarke in Manchester--an incident that has left a family shattered and a nation uneasy.

Young Clarke reportedly entered an unsecured water tank on a neighbour's property while attempting to retrieve a ball he had been playing with. The CPFSA said based on preliminary reports, he and a sibling were left in the care of a landlord, but he had gone outside to play unsupervised.

The tragedy mirrors another recent heartbreak. Just weeks earlier, five-year-old Rakeema Williams of Clarendon died after drowning in an open cistern at a property where her family was temporarily staying.

With two similar incidents in such close succession, the agency says the pattern is deeply troubling.

"These repeated incidents serve as a painful reminder that children are especially vulnerable to environmental hazards," said CEO of the CPFSA, Laurette Adams-Thomas.

"At no time should children be left unsupervised, particularly in spaces where there are open or unsecured water sources. Leaving children unattended, even for short periods, can have devastating consequences. Lack of proper supervision also constitutes neglect, which is a form of child abuse under the law," she stated.

The agency is reminding parents, guardians, and property owners of their responsibility to ensure that their surroundings are safe for children. This includes conducting regular checks to secure all water sources such as tanks, cisterns, drains, ponds, and other bodies of water.

"We are urging all caregivers and property owners to take proactive steps to secure water sources. Water tanks and cisterns must be properly covered and locked, while ponds and other natural water bodies should be securely fenced with controlled access," Adams-Thomas said.

"We must all take responsibility for creating safe spaces for our children. Regular checks of your property to identify and secure potential hazards can make the difference between life and death; and these simple preventative measures can save our children's lives," Adams-Thomas added.