Magistrate Gloria Augustus has urged Dominicans to adopt children who are in need.
Augustus’ comments came in response, to what she said, were statements from locals regarding the recent killing of two infants.
Dominicans were left in a state of shock on Thursday morning when they learnt that a five year old and two month old baby were allegedly stabbed to death by their mother in the early hours of that morning.
“One of the things I have noticed from that [is] a lot of people have been saying, [well if she didn’t want the children give them to me.] But you know how many times Welfare Division has been out there asking for foster parents or persons who would even want to adopt? Give your names to the Welfare Division!” she said.
“A lot of people want babies but we don’t have plenty babies. There are a lot of children who need care and protection. And also when you doing it, make sure that you can do it. Don’t just do it because you want to get the money welfare is giving or you have plenty problems at your home and you want to bring your children into more problem,” she stated.
“If you genuinely have a love for children, you have the space, and you have the support or you discuss with your family… If you genuinely want to assist children find out through the Welfare Division how you can assist. You may do that even through Operation Youth Quake. Sometime they want children to go places for the weekend because they closed on weekends and they want a home that a child can go to… ,”she told Dominica News Online during an exclusive interview.
Though acknowledging that a facility for abandoned children will be built in Jimmit soon, Augustus insisted that there is still a need for foster parents.
“If you know you that you have that in your heart and you really want to do something for a child, you can either do it directly or indirectly. Indirectly you can probably help to support a family… groceries or help the child with their homework or take the child out somewhere…” she stated.
“Don’t do nothing and think it’s not your business,” the magistrate said.
What I am saying applies to my own nation as well as Dominica.
What is needed is a STRONG foster parent program.
A STRONG foster parent program will be one where potential foster parents are screened to be sure only qualified trustworthy married man and woman couples are given the privilege of being foster parents. They must be couples who obviously love children, and are doing well with their own biological children if they have such. We have seen couples taken into the program without investigating their background. Sadly, I know of a case in Canada where the couple had previously been charged with child abuse, and it happened again.
It must be a WELL SUPERVISED program.
A WELL SUPERVISED program will be one where children are not placed a risk by case workers who are
overloaded and unable to do their jobs. Parents should be visited by their workers who are able to talk privately with each child every so often.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.
I was wondering if this lady had post natal depression that led to this, not to mention social factors that she might have had. Gone to the Lord babies may you rest in peace in the arms of Jesus
This comment is for Valda first and foremost stop embarrassing yourself with these hideous statements please. Lets try and stick to the facts here and learn something from this sad tragedy because that is exactly what it is.
I’m also a friend of the family this is my second comment unless you walk in an individuals shoes you can never completely fully understand what they are going through. Now postpartum depression is something that is very real and lots of women experience this illness. Yes I stated illness. Now this is also about us opening our minds and being objective and not subjective, I say read up on postpartum depression and take your obvious personal feelings out of this please. This tragedy should bring awareness to this mental condition it shouldn’t be a time in which individuals take the opportunity to lash out please.
Even from a woman point of view I say it’s unfair to a man the system of child courts-especially when a man shows genuine interest in the welfare of his child or children. Some mothers don’t have one natururing instinct in them at all.
Could you please elaborate what exactly you’re referring to?
After reading this article from the judge I must say that she should have given this more thought before she offered this statement in regards to this case. In my opinion though what she’s recommending is true, however according to what I’ve read in regards to this article there is and still has been no evidence brought forth to support that this mother was a neglectful parent in anyway. So all the possibilities need to be investigated. Now as a woman I can understand that post padum or any other form of mental illness can present itself at anytime. So with that said I do believe that it’s quite possible that this is exactly what happened in this case ( unfortunately no one knew or saw the changes- or maybe lack of knowledge of this mental illness caused it to go unnoticed all together. More importantly 2 innocent children are dead and the life of a mother is now severely altered. This is a very sensitive case and I must say it can happen in any part of the world people you need to stop being naive like I stated before mental illness those not discriminate. As an advocate for children and a former school teacher I say if no one in the immediate day to day contact with this young lady saw no signs of neglect or abuse to her children then we may just have to take into consideration that she’d given birth just 2 months prior and just may have suffered from post patum depression. I urge all that don’t understand this mental illness to read up on it before you post or comment any further on this issue. Again the judge’s statements has nothing to do with this situation at all especially if there is no evidence of neglect on the mothers part.
@One Love: PLEASE
@NatureIslander.NC: A correction to my comment to “One Love”. You and your followers are a bunch of wolves in sheep’s clothing!
@One Love: How ignorant of you to say that Christian children should not be placed in the care of the “unsaved.” Who are you to cast judgment? Leave it to GOD! You are all a bunch of sheep in wolves’ clothing, fighting among yourselves like “ti cochon” and then pretending that all is well on the outside. God will decide who is saved and who is not. You are such a pathetic human being. The children of drug dealers are also children of GOD. There is no place in society for people like you and your followers.
Devoted Dominican,
while u sit back relaxed u should also play your part in trying to fight crime instead of throwing stones. if you are so devoted what have you done lately for your country. get your facts straight.
i get sort of irritated and even angry when i hear Miss Augustus talk about children eh. i visited her court not for any business of my own but to be moral support for a male friend going thru some problems with his ex girlfreind and mother of his son. he was refused custody of his child and given 3 days to spend time with the child after evidence showed that he wa cabaple of taking care of his kid, financially, educationally, socially, morally and however else the shoe fits. her character as a mother and even as a woman was thrown out as not enough to remove the child from her care. even her mental abuse of the child n her ability to get a job and support her child was not given the time of day. however, he request was for more money from him to support the child , wile he still pays school n medicals…it hurts to know someone who was MAL JUDGED by this judge or magistrate..whatever she is because..the child was not yet 5 and legal custody is with the mother as per the law. so ur child can be eating fig n oil, suckin gon brown sugar and water for tea even being instructed how to curse by his mother and all the court can tell u is legal custody lies with the mother….so maybe it can be a father taking into consideration all he has done for his son n cannot be allowed to have the rights he received when the child was born.
but god is not a police and he is the greatest JUDGE n Magistrate
@Just giving my 2 cents: u could call 448-2401 thats the minstry and ask them to transfer you the welfare division or ask them for the extension, good intentions i must say my dear.
@friend of the family: so many women with children in Dominica, how come is she alone that get postpartum depression so bad that she killed her kids? everybody have their opinions, its a free country, i hear even her mother in shock, when they release her u should let her hang out around your kids.
Anyone who was a friend of this young lady(especially on facebook) saw the signs since June 2010 loud and clear. I happened to browse her page when it first happened, the pictures loaded were graphic and unpleasing. The cruelty to babies and children it showed was sending a loud message that this girl needed help. My question is, no family or friend who saw this felt the need to act??
What is welfare division’s number or even youth quake. i’d like some info before i visit for creole fest because I want to adopt a child from Dominica.
good idea; good motive, WRONG STRATEGY: can’t put Christian kids in care of unsaved.
These kids are now in heaven, we won’t be worrying about them falling to crack and searching garbage bins or labass for a meal.. . .
However kids of DRUG DEALERS (especially dead dealers) or ADDICTS should definitely be put up for adoption
Some” couyons” will just insist on not understanding logic.Where are the skills that we can use to analyse and deduce things (written ones that are so straight forward)?I guess amongst the many in this comprehending world will always be the few nincompoops who just object for objecting sake!!!!!!!!!
I feel very sorry for these 2 beautiful innocent children.. May their soul rest in peace..I also feel sorry for the mother.. For a mother to murder her own kids while they r asleep, she got to have a problem..Postpartum is a serious illness and mothers suffering from that disease needs alot of support and help..I a mnot makin excuses for the mother, i do not know her personally, but if she murdered he rkids bcuz of thar disease i feel sorry but if she willingly do it, she needs to be punished for this crime..
Many times in life, we say oh we dnt tell people our business or problems, but if something is really bothering its always good to speak to someone that u trust.. when u keep problems inside it destroys u..It leads to anxiety, depression, stress..
Most importantly we need to deliver our problems and worries in the hands of the lord.. He is the healer and the master..He is greater than all of our problems..
I am going to take a stance yet that will warrant alot of negative scores but here goes. The magistrate wrote an article that our citizens should step up and help out when needed. We all know what the article said, some have personalize it, some are against it, some say it does not fit the current situation. Many have concluded that it was a case of post partum depression but yet claims that there were no signs. Post partum does not just appear in one night, surely there have to be signs that one suffers from this. Which makes the magistrate article very appropriate, She is calling on me and you to be vigilant from henceforth. You can’t blame post partum but hold on to the notion that everything was perfect, mental illness is far from living a perfect life, so we as a society continue to fail our neighbors and family. So which is it, were the signs ignored or were there any signs and if there were no signs then researchers need to review mental illnesses.
From the moment I heard the news of the killings , first thing which came to mind was POST PARTUM depression. This is very sad and right now the mother needs us all to pray for her. Post Partum depression can happen to any parent who has just given birth. It affects men too but women are affected the most. I’ve heard of cases where mothers have killed their children and themselves. We just need to pray , pray ,pray
@Valda Bruno – Durand: Fair comment.
@Desy: True say!!!
I always wondered how it is that such a strong advocate for children’s welfare never saw it fit to adopt any.Especially when you trying to get people to pay child support or go to jail for not paying child support or prosecuting child abusers and you know that there are parents who just cannot do any better for their kids. Stand up for what you so believe in Gloria and adopt one or more of these children.You know that you can afford it.Walk the walk and talk the talk.LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE TOO!!!!!!!!
@Valda Bruno – Durand:
Valda again…I refuse to believe that is the real Valda. Because the nonsense that person posting its not the seemingly sensible fluffy Valda that saying those stupid things. Valda stop using your name because you only embarrassing yourself. That’s my second warning. Its ridiculous.
I just want to back up Francis.Gloria,why when things concerning children come you always first to jump on it and talk like you know the answers.what do you know about the struggles man and women go through in bringing children up.how many children do you have?I am the father of two handsome sons.nobody can dispute that i am a good father to them..even you ,their mother or the courts can dispute that fact.i left and went out of state for two years not working , but i was still my best with my sons.You and their mother (because she is your friend) tried your best to send me to jail.Guess what, I am sure it burns your heart so bad to see how my sons and i rolling in town.What would have achieved by sending me to jail…would you be working in their best interest?You are NOT qualified to comment on anything that pertains to children and family life so just stay in your solo life without children.
@Devoted Dominican.: miss check dat nuh even if ppl doh know why the mother kill her children should not even be an excuse…..is better she gave the children to a foster home than killing them…so i doh care wat her reason was u have no right or justifiable reason to kill to innocent children like dat…so the magistrate is not wrong …if u know mothers a likely to commit these acts it does not have to be murder but once is abuse ppl should adopt these children for a better life…thats a sensible thing to do..common man ppl
since the judge giving the advice is she also taking it and adopting a child also and share her life with that child
@interesting mother: i would think so may be you should contact human services in dominica
@Vee: i totally agree agree with you. The judge clearly does not know what she is talking about. She does not know the facts of the case to make a statement like that and she dosn’t know the mother. She love her kids especially little racheal who she took care of for five years and for ppl to imply differently is not acceptable and those kids were wanted and loved . And i would agree that this situation has no bearing on what judge augustus is talking about. Have a little compassion, the mother was clearly sick and not in her right mind to do that to her kids she loved them very much. And no matter what ignorant Dominicans have to say about her she loved and her kids and they clearly do not understand post natal depression. So maybe they should watch more TLC and research about the illness.It could happen to any one its just unfortunate that she did not get help and this had to happen. Were gonna miss you racheal and baby sophie and we are praying for you sarah .
@good choice: I love the point that you have made. One should make it his or her business to being able to identify the signs, though many.
@Desy: I agree with you 100%. Nothing i read about the killing gave me the impression that those kids were not wanted and that is what prompted her to kill them.
That judge is wrong to use this case to highlight the fact that Dominicans need to be foster parents.
Magistrate Gloria. Again we a dealing with a heinous crime being committed on the island of Dominica. While i feel very sorry for the mother of having to have made such a sacrifice, you and many other Dominicans does not know why she did it. Now her precious children are in the presence of the almighty while she awaits her punishment from the govt of Dominica. Now Gloria, while this happens to be a crime that we can deal with, what happens to the others that you so boldly condone to. For was it not you and other magistrate who put magistrate Douglas through hell fire for wanting to curb crime and violence in the island by putting them the criminals behind bars? how many criminals of high stature now walks the streets of Dominica because of you? my point to you is, while you live in your glass mansion you are asking us who live in cardbourd houses and live on hand me downs to make sacrifices for you.
Just like there is Food Disease, Stomach Disease, Back Disease, there is such a thing as “mental disease”, and until we begin to come to terms with that reality, and find the neccessary help for the Mentally Ill in our community; we will continue to have this type of problem. And you will continue to see the “judge” on the news trying to tell you just how uneducated we Dominicans really are. We/Dominicans are always the last to learn but the first to comment on things we do not know about and understand.
Just like there is Foot disease,
@help a child
Really!?!?!?Did you not read lines 3-15?Minus these lines and it can be a good article.I wrote based on previous articles/comments and this one, I did not dive into the situation.Do you really understand what I wrote.Your comment puzzles me.
@Desy:
I think you are way off here. The connection can always be made. The article is asking people to step up and help out their fellow citizens. There is no need to dive into the situation of what happened, obviously something went wrong somewhere and we may never understand why. Let’s just be more vigilant to the people around us to help in whatever ways we can. Let us not criticize too much, we may never have the answers. Very good article by the magistrate and very timely indeed.
@good choice:
you do not have to be present in Dominica for the process, you only need to be there to start it and then to go to the adoption hearing. In this day and age of FEDEX and DHL, you can’t be expected to leave your life in America to be in Dominica for a process that takes about a year to complete.
I’m trying to make the connection between the killings and this article from Miss Augustus.From reading the article stating what Inspector Weekes said,it would indicate that the young lady was alleged to be suffering from Post partum,thus the medical opinion before she can be charged.Nowhere did this article or comments posted state that she was having problems with bringing up her kids.The comments otherwise stated that those who knew her were appalled that she would do something of that nature.Miss Augustus’ article was based on a comment made by people,”If she did not want the kids,why didn’t she give them to me?”Based on this I understood it to mean that Miss Augustus is of the opinion that Sarah killed her kids because she did not want them.WERE THE CHILDREN IN NEED?WERE THEY BEING ABUSED?DOES ANYONE KNOW IF SARAH DISPLAYED SIGNS OF BEING MENTAL?Let us be mindful of the facts before making our statements sound so callous and heartless. I have been a school teacher and have known on numerous occasions of the welfare division being called for parents who neglected their children in one way or another and nothing has ever been done.I had even heard of a relationship between one of the parents concerned and a welfare officer.Thus saying, we just gave up on our end.We felt that if the person who was entrusted to plead on the childrens’ behalf so blatantly showed their disregard, what were we to do?I am quite pleased to know that the welfare department is calling on people to do their part and I do hope that people like myself and other concerned and devoted citizens will play our part.
children are precious beings. they never asked to be born. the cruelty they suffer at the hands of abusers…my god. its sickening. sometimes i try to wonder what would actually piss off someone so much as to injure a baby much less a five year old. we have to think outside the box here. seeing someone on the street every day and thinking, “wow, mamzel have life sweet cause she always well dress or she is so educated…” these things are nothing cause on the inside this individual could be the most disturbed individual just aching to talk to someone.
when children try talking to us we should not brush them off and consider them to be annoying or troublesome. take heed that when a child is trying to reach out and we brushes him/ her off…it could have consequences…delinquency, drug use, prostitution, suicide, running away from home, stealing etc…
as someone out there trying to get persons to understand the rights of the child, i strongly detest child abusers.
NOTE: CHILD ABUSE OCCUR IN VARIOUS FORMS
sexual abuse, physical abuse, abandonment/ neglect, emotional abuse….
what does the size of your house have to do with helping a needy child??? helping a child that is left in the evil hands of abuse??? please ppl we can do better than that
you can adopt a child even though you reside in the USA. the normal legal procedures however would have to take place. you would also have to make yourself available in dominica during the process because as common sense would have it, you cant just do an adoption without being present physically. to get more information on this you could also contact the social welare division via email or telephone. also if you are REALLY interested you could start off by liaising with the division through a friend or family member in dominica….
@interested in adopting:
It is very easy to adopt in Dominica. Once you have identified a child you wish to adopt the next step is to get an attorney who will work in conjunction with the social welfare division to make this happen. On your side, you will need to get an agency in your State to conduct a homestudy to send to Dominica. The rest of the procedures will fall into place. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO HAVE THE HEART AND WILLINGNESS TO DO IT. GOD BLESS YOU!!!
@Valda Bruno – Durand:
I am appalled to be even reading this height of ignorance. It is true foster parenting is not for everyone but there is a joy that comes when one is able to save a child. Children were not asked to be born so once they are here we should help them. Jesus said to welcome the little children and forbid them not. If you have no better contribution, i think it is best that you refrain from posting such myopic viewpoint.
Can i adopt a child from dominica to leave in the usa.i’m dominican living in the usa. what are the procedures?
Yes Dominicans, what are we going to do to help our fellow citizens who seemed overwhelmed and can’t handle the pressures of life. Will we continue to say “that is their business” then turn your backs? How many people would have love to help out with these 2 children if they know this was going to happen? Now is the time to look at your friends and neighbors and help in whatever ways we can.
Is it possible 4 a born Dominican that lives abroad adopt an infant????????????
HOW MANY YOU WILL ADOPT YOU GOT MONEY SURE YOU GOT BIG HOUSE.
SO MUCH GOOD CHRISTIAN PEOPLE. STEP UP.
Some excellent points there.
Also would like to congratulate the staff of DNO for the manner in which they reported that very sensitive story. Closing the “comments” section was a good move because based on my experience here people shoot from their hips without thinking. Good jobs DNO.
Good idea……. Was there any public health worker
monitoring the behaviour of this lady.? what happen to home visit
don’t they do home visit anymore. A young lady so young with two children
i believe she must have presented some mental issues prior to this henous crime
what about the neighbors? i hope we can all learn from this .I just get “goose bumbs”
just thinking what the children must have gone through and sad for this mother
too. This happens in America not my beautiful country.We are our brother’s keeper
.
We humans have a knack for coming together and rising up to our potential in the face of a tragedy. Natural disasters and acts of violence bring us out of our small selves and into the world, ready to lend a hand to those in need. This experience is often life-changing for those who are willing to step into the position of helper. We feel as if we are finally doing something really important, and this leads us to feeling more self-actualized. We feel more connected to the people we are helping, as well as more connected to humanity in general. As we expand beyond the boundaries of our individualistic pursuit of happiness there can be a complete reality shift. We often find that it is much easier to be happy when we are motivated in an effort to make the world better in tangible ways, by coming to the rescue of those who are suffering.
Considering the many benefits of this kind of gesture, it is surprising that more of us don’t devote our lives, or at least some portion of our time, to serving people in need. We don’t have to wait for a tragedy to come together, as a community or a nation, and offer ourselves to the world in service. Sometimes it’s easier, of course, to respond to an event that has just happened rather than to ongoing problems like homelessness, poverty, and illness. But the truth of this world is that there is always someone in need of our best efforts to rally a group of helpers and healers. Maybe we feel discouraged because these smaller acts and gestures don’t generate the same kind of energy and attention from other people as heroic acts in the face of immediate disaster, and perhaps an effort to change this is one way to change the world.
The more we promote, applaud, and actively inspire humanitarian efforts in the world, the more others will be drawn to this kind of work. We might pay a little less attention to sports and celebrity gossip and a little more attention to those everyday heroes who devote their lives to alleviating suffering. The more attention we pay, the more we will inspire others and ourselves to be of service in a world that greatly needs our attention.
Gloria people want babies because you can mould them how you want but them children when they done spoil and have all their old ways ingrained in them you think people want to go and look for stress for themselves. You can have all the love for them you want when them children have their bad ways it hard for them to change i know you mean well but me self doh want no body stress and they outside sewoing. Tell them i say go to the DOMINICA PLANNED PARENTHOOD ASSOCIATION and plan their pregnancies, and doh make child for man because he tell you he want a “yout” and when the yout born and the stretch marks come he moving on to the next new “ting” on the block. Its all good to help out a situation but its a big sacrifice to take on other people’s stress and doh fool yourself some of them is for the little 100.00 they doing it. Anyway i appluad your efforts you always on the go for positive action.