CORONER MANILA RENEE wants a greater awareness of the protection of minors and what could be done.
She made these statements yesterday as the attorney for the Child Care Board (CCB), Queen’s Counsel Beverley Lady Waldrond, made it clear as to how a child can be instantly made a ward of the state under circumstances of extreme violence. 
“Under the Supreme Court of Judicature Act, Chapter 117, Section 20, children can be made wards of the state if a parent, for example a “crackie”, does not consent to voluntary placement of the child under Section 7 of the Child Act. The Child Care Board can then apply to the High Court to have this matter expedited as a matter of urgency,” she explained.
She was making the point that the great-aunt of Shemar Weekes was well within her right to apply for guardianship as she believed he was being physically, emotionally and verbally mistreated by his mother, Julianne Weekes. (RA)
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