REGIONAL: Bahamian police probe death of four-year-old child

SOURCE: CMC- Police say two people are assisting their investigations into the death of a four-year-old child, who was brought to the Princess Margaret Hospital over the weekend with severe injuries to her body.

Police said that they had received information late Friday from hospital authorities that the child had been brought to the facility, unresponsive.

They said initial investigations showed that the child, a resident of a major sub-division, sustained several injuries to her body. The police said they are awaiting an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, however.

“We do not speculate, but are awaiting an autopsy,” Police Commissioner Paul Rolle said.

The police have not released the names of the child, nor the man and woman in their custody, but relatives have identified the child to local media as, Bella Walker.

The Tribune newspaper quoted the child’s grandmother, Mary Grant, as describing her as “friendly and smart,” who lived with her and her 81-year-old husband since she was a two-week-old baby.

But she said that changed about two months ago when the child was sent to New Providence to live with another female relative.

Transport and Housing Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis in a twitter message, said as a mother of a young girl she was deeply saddened by the news. The minister said while she joined the call for justice among concerned citizens, more must be done through legislation and policies.

STATE Social Services and Urban Development Minister Lisa Rahming implored Bahamians to take a stand against gender-based violence and violence against children.

“We can only do this by being our brother’s keeper, protecting each other and by this we would have a safer Bahamas,” Rahming said