Grenada police highlight child safety during Christmas

Police in Grenada have been stressing the importance of close supervision of children in the lead up to Christmas.

The comments come just a month after the murder of nine-year-old Ariel Bolah, who was found dead on 11 November.

Family and friends of the schoolgirl celebrated what would have been her 10th birthday with a small ceremony at her grave in Grand Anse cemetery on Monday.

Police are hoping that since the tragic death, parents have been keeping a closer eye on their children, and this advice is being pressed home during the busy festive period.

“[The] issue of safety at homes, and the abandoning and neglect of children, that is something our officers will be looking out for very keenly around this time of the year,” a spokesman for the community relations department told MTV News Grenada.

“Parents are expected to be responsible, and it we find out there is reason to believe that they are not then the aspect of the law will definitely kick in with force

“If you have to leave you children, then a designated person of the age of accountability – that is a person of and above the age of 18 – should be taking care of the minors.”

High numbers of child sexual abuse is still of concern to the police, the spokesman added, and the force is “not sparing a moment” dealing with reports coming in.