Clarke

Shelly-Ann Thompson, Gleaner Writer

An appeal to parents to be mindful of the safety of their children has again come from Children's Advocate, Mary Clarke.

On Tuesday, one-year-old Vanessa Gayle was burnt to death in a house fire at McKenley Crescent in Olympic Gardens, Kingston 11. Four days before, two toddlers perished in a fire on Friday night ain Olympic Gardens, Kingston 11. Four days before, two toddlers perished in a fire on Friday night after their 17-year-old mother left them alone on Spanish Town Road.

Ms. Clarke said parents should refrain from leaving their children at home unattended and unsupervised.

"We have to ask parents to be more careful with open flame, such as candles, stoves and lit insect repellents," she said.

Since the start of the year, five children have been burnt to death in fire. Twenty were killed in 2006.

Statistics show that between 1997 and 2002 there were 146 deaths caused by fire with 52 of that number being children.

Parents should be reminded, said Ms. Clarke, that according to the Child Care and Protection Act, they have the primary responsible for the safety of their children.

"They will be held accountable if it can be proved that they were negligent," she added.

"Parents need to realise that there is a cost when children perish; that they lose them, plus they will be punished," Ms. Clarke said.

shelly-ann.thompson@gleanerjm.com