The
police
and
probation
services
are
investigating
the
circumstances
which
resulted
in
an
eight-year-old
boy
suffering
second-degree
burns
to
his
chest.
Akeem
James
of
263
Samatta
Point,
Grove,
East
Bank
Demerara
was
admitted
to
the
Georgetown
Public
Hospital
on
July
23
after
being
scalded
on
his
chest
apparently
as
punishment
for
losing
$500
which
he
had
been
given
to
purchase
chicken.
Akeem's
mother,
who
was
held
by
the
police
and
subsequently
released,
has
denied
this.
She
claimed
that
he
accidentally
came
into
contact
with
a
stove.
According
to
reports,
the
child
had
been
flogged
twice
prior
to
being
dowsed
with
a
hot
liquid
and
was
made
to
suffer
other
forms
of
punishment
including
kneeling
as
well
as
being
barred
from
leaving
his
Grove
home.
Speaking
with
Stabroek
News
yesterday
Akeem's
father
Anthony
James
who
is
estranged
from
the
boy's
mother
said
he
learned
of
the
situation
on
July
23,
when
his
mother
(Akeem's
grandmother),
who
also
lives
at
Grove,
called
to
inform
him
of
the
child's
condition.
James
said
his
mother
had
only
just
become
aware
of
her
grandson's
condition
as
he
had
escaped
from
his
home
while
his
mother
was
away
and
had
gone
to
see
his
grandmother.
The
man
said
he
immediately
informed
the
relevant
authorities
and
took
his
son
to
the
hospital.
A
report
was
made
to
the
police
at
Grove
and
later
at
the
Probation
and
Welfare
Office
at
the
Ministry
of
Human
Services
and
Social
Security
in
Georgetown,
where
officers
began
addressing
the
matter.
A
police
source
has
confirmed
that
a
report
was
made
and
they
are
currently
investigating
the
matter.
James
said
that
at
the
hospital
his
son
was
admitted
suffering
from
second-degree
burns
to
five
percent
of
his
chest.
The
child
was
hospitalised
for
five
days
and
has
since
being
discharged.
He
is
currently
in
his
father's
care
at
'B'
Field,
Sophia.
Stabroek
News
was
shown
a
copy
of
the
medical
certificate
as
well
as
a
photograph
of
the
state
of
Akeem's
chest
following
the
scalding.
Police
who
took
statements
from
both
the
child
and
James
initially
held
the
boy's
mother,
but
later
released
her
on
station
bail
pending
further
action.
This
newspaper
understands
that
the
mother
claimed
the
lad
had
an
accident
with
a
stove
at
their
Grove
home.
Akeem
has
denied
this,
asserting
that
boiling
water
from
a
flask
was
thrown
on
him
after
he
lost
the
money.
James
told
Stabroek
News
that
his
son
repeated
this
at
a
subsequent
confrontation
between
him
and
the
mother
in
the
presence
of
both
the
police
and
probation
authorities.
(Oscar
P.
Clarke)
