Education Minister expresses condolences to loved ones of deceased infant

Octavia Alfred

Education Minister Octavia Alfred expresses sincere condolences to the family and friends of an infant who died while at daycare this week.

“The Ministry of Education, Human Resource Planning, Vocational Training, and National Excellence in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services join the general public in expressing sincere condolences to the parents, family, and friends on the unfortunate loss of the infant while at the daycare,” she said.

She continued, “We also empathize with the proprietor, staff of the daycare as well as their families on the unfortunate incident.”

According to Alfred, the counselors within the Ministry of Education are available to provide services to those who have been immediately impacted by this incident.

“Our prayers continue to be with you,” she said.

As a result of this unfortunate incident, the police have since launched an investigation and one individual is currently in custody being questioned.

Dominica News Online (DNO) has been reliably informed that on January 10, 2023, the female child was dropped off at a daycare in good health but later that day, she was found unresponsive.

The infant was taken to the Dominica China Friendship Hospital (DCFH) where she was examined and officially pronounced dead by a medical doctor.

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18 Comments

  1. January 13, 2023

    :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:

  2. Dominican Bwoi
    January 12, 2023

    I can’t stand this woman’s face. She looks like an ugly version of that bulldog from Tom & Jerry

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 3
    • Drain pipe
      January 14, 2023

      You need to go higher than that and leave the lady’s face alone. Don’t like their political ideology but I wouldn’t hit the lady about her look. Some of them smile nice like an angel but their mind is wicked like the devil.

  3. Ibo France
    January 12, 2023

    The absolute worst and least academically accomplished Minister of Education to hold this significant portfolio. Every time she delivers a speech she has to use a script even to say ‘Thank you’.

    She does no good for the country whenever she chooses to open her mouth. Remember when she spoke without her script to the students. “Go and shake your pampalam to finance the completion of your studies.

    The woman would have been immediately disappointed from cabinet by any decent and honourable prime minister after that comment.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 19 Thumb down 5
    • New
      January 13, 2023

      She has since moved on, yet young ladies in Dominica, the Caribbean and all over the world have been shaking their pampalams with no further motivation from this lady. You, however seem to be stuck in the past. Focus on the issue at hand. It was, in no way, initiated by Mrs. Alfred. She could have chosen to remain silent.

  4. Ibo France
    January 12, 2023

    The persons/employees/providers of this most important service (daycare) should be properly trained. Educational sessions in caring for these infants on an ongoing basis for free from the Ministry of Education should become policy.

    Too many of these workers don’t have ANY prior training in caring for children at such an early age. This is unacceptable. Negligence by the ‘licencing authority’ (Government/Education Department) if you ask me.

    It’s truly heart wrenching for the loss of any life, more particularly, of someone so young. The person who was arrested for this unfortunate death I feel for you as it was not deliberate. I’m sure you are emotionally devastated as well.

    May this be a seminal moment that will change our daycare system for the better.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 2
  5. Moi Mem
    January 12, 2023

    Child abuse is a heartbreaking and cruel act to innocent children who look to us, grownups to care for them. We pray for all the children of the world because we know full well what they go through. JESUS SAID, “LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME UNTO ME.” Anyone who is found to have abused children – be it physically or sexually must be kept away from children of certain ages and must be prosecuted to the fullest extent. Also, anyone who has witnessed such abuse and doesn’t disclose it or report it to the authorities should be prosecuted equally as the actual abuser. Sadly, some who are in authority have done so with impunity. But there’s a pay day coming. Lastly, the custom was that, mammy would stay home to mind the children but with this “equal rights” in the workforce have parents paying a regrettable price. It all boils down to greed, power and money. Rapper 50 cents says, “The more money we make, the more trouble we see.” Mam will not learn his lesson. Money is his God. Pay the price

    Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 4 Thumb down 4
    • Moi Mem
      January 12, 2023

      We have a staggering amount of women employed in Dominica both in the public sector and in the private sector. Women hold higher positions in the governmental sector compare to men. Why such is the case? Thus, someone has to mind mammy’s children for her. Daddy is a qualified trade man but he cannot find work because work is given to foreigners who have their wife taking care of their children in their respective countries. So Dominica trade men are salt suckers. While they are hunting for work and mammy sitting at her desk their children and being abused and killed at daycare centers. Nancy Polocy husband was attacked at their home; she is resigning to stay home with her husband. That’s the difference between white peoples and the Negroes. Blacks sacrifice their family’s safety for money. Then the reward is unbearable and shocking. There is an old calypso which says, “STAY HOME AND MIND BABY.”

      Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 8 Thumb down 8
      • Tamika
        January 14, 2023

        I wonder why it is that women in DA hold more and higher positions than man, even though some are less qualified and less suitable. The thing is that not always qualifications and suitability matter but other factors appear to be much more important. Remember what LL said once upon a time and he got crucified for his comment. The truth of the matter is, he of course was absolutely right.

        Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 1
  6. Just a question
    January 12, 2023

    Wasn’t she a government minister when two women including a doctor were brutally murdered by their boyfriends in the last days of 2022? Why did I not here her or any government minister offering condolences? Was that too close to home for them and they were instructed to hush?

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 3
  7. Petes
    January 12, 2023

    I hope the parents sue them well and good.

    Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 14 Thumb down 16
    • ???
      January 12, 2023

      @Petes
      You seem to know the circumstances of the death.
      Tell us!!

      Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 7 Thumb down 7
    • The Truth Be Told
      January 12, 2023

      Petes
      You are making a comment without all the facts.
      Don’t people die suddenly?
      Is is possible that the infant suffered some form of infant syndrome death or other ailment?
      Please people think before you talk like a fool.
      One has to know the facts before coming to a conclusion.
      Right now you want to condemn someone who also is hurting for the death occurring in her business place.
      Can you put yourself in her shoes? Probably her daily bread and only means?
      We have to have empathy.
      This is sad for both the infants family and the Daycare proprietor and she also has family as well.

      Put your mouth in gear before you speak and also think before you just say anything foolish.

      Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 8 Thumb down 9
      • Putin
        January 13, 2023

        “Put your mouth in gear before you speak and also think before you just say anything foolish.” Sadly, too many Dominicans do not seem to know how to do these two.

        Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 1 Thumb down 8
      • Robin
        January 13, 2023

        DNO smoke without fire. Keep on looking for excuses. You do the same for your dishonest CM.

        Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 1
        • January 13, 2023

          He is no more the CM but the Supreme Leader of Dominica. Give the man some respect, sir.

          Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 1 Thumb down 11
          • Marie
            January 15, 2023

            Well, as ever you seem to be over pedantic. So how about SCM (Supreme Crime Minister? Is that more to your liking, D ip S tick. Thinking about it, it actually hits the nail right on its head.

            Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 2

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