Upon an application from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Gender and Child Welfare, the District Court of Rose-Hill has refused to grant custody of a baby to a drug addict mum.
Born in March, the baby was left alone after the confinement while the parents were nowhere to be found. The mother is a substance abuse user whilst the father is in prison for a criminal offence.
Nevertheless, they want their baby back. Magistrate Valentine Mayer was before a plea from the authorities to refuse the custody to the biological parents for a period of at least two years.
However, she decided that it will be only for six months and has urged the parents to take remedial measures.
The Court has asked that given that the minor is declared by his parents;
(a)The mother undergoes parental training sessions;
(b)The mother undergoes a detoxification treatment; and
(c) The parents build a bond and relationship with the minor by visiting him frequently.
“I have not lost sight of the fact that a committal order is a drastic one which ought to be granted, only in exceptional circumstances. It essentially deprives a child of growing up with his parents and belonging to a family. In this particular case, it could deprive the child, who is only a few months old, of maternal love and care. Granting such an order means that the child will be denied family integrity and an upbringing within a family home under the care of his biological parents. This is bound to affect the child emotionally and socially for the rest of his life” concluded the magistrate.
Instead of two years, the parents will be deprived of custody for only six months, a period that they are bound to make changes in their lifestyle and behaviour.
