'He must have been out of his mind' - Guidance counsellor charges that children need to be safeguarded from the mentally ill

Far more needs to be done to identify people with mental-health issues, as that appears to be at the heart of some of the senseless slaying of children, asserts Romaine Sohan, guidance counsellor at Gregory Park Primary School in St Catherine.

He is also calling on the Government to put in place stricter measures geared at protecting children, while holding parents and guardians more accountable.

Sohan was reacting to the horrific murder of one of his students, nine-year-old Steve Johnson, at his home in Windsor Heights, St Catherine, on Saturday. His mother and older brother were also injured in the incident.

"Something has to be done in identifying those among us, in particular, those who have children around them, who are suffering from mental illness, because the man who chopped Steve to death must have been out of his mind," Sohan said.

He continued: "I think policies need to be enacted that seriously put the focus on parents, holding them accountable. It cannot be that laws are just on paper. It must carry with it some bite.

"You look at what happened in this case. Some of the students here say they are upset at the fact that there was no one there to defend Steve. They will no longer see him or have him around anymore."

According to reports, the common-law husband of Steve's mother got into an argument with her. The argument reportedly escalated and the man used a machete to chop her and her two sons before fleeing. Steve was chopped twice in the head and on the neck. Steve died from his injuries, while his mother and brother were hospitalised.

WANTED TO BECOME A POLICEMAN

"He was really the typical nine-year-old; full of life. He liked to play; always quick to fall back in line with just one look if he thought he was acting out of the normal. I never had to say much to him. I know that he wanted to become a policeman," stated his grade teacher Nancy Dennis-Wright. "I tell you, it's horrible what is happening to our children."

Yesterday, Steve's classmates made "Miss You, Steve" cards, but none was more affected than his best friend Amoya Venson, who routinely takes the bus with him.

She had been crying all morning, The Gleaner was told.

"I feel bad," were the only words she could manage, as she stood with a bewildered look in her eyes.

paul.clarke@gleanerjm.com