Arnel and Cornelia Jones whose child died as a result of an incident at a childcare facility in Dominica, are calling for the enactment of legislation to protect children of future generations when placed in the hands of daycare owners.
On January 10, 2022, 13-month-old Khari Mya Symphony Jones was dropped off at the daycare in good health but later that day, she was found unresponsive. Khari was taken to the Dominica China Friendship Hospital (DCFH) where she was examined and officially pronounced dead by a medical doctor. Investigations are still ongoing.
The parents spoke to the media on Monday about the ‘Khari Law’, alongside Pastor Randy Rodney at the Truth and Grace Fellowship Global.
“We need to put things in place to safeguard the children and if it starts with Arnel and myself starting a fire then that is how it’s going to be done because this cannot happen to somebody else, this cannot happen to another child,” Mother of Khari, Cornelia Jones said.
“This is why today we want to talk about the ‘Khari Law’, and this law will be a policy for daycares and nurseries, and we have been in talks with attorneys, we’ve had very successful meetings and we have a framework and we have something that I’m hoping that we will get the support of the public and the policymakers.”
Jones stated that she and her husband hope to have a board that will be responsible for enacting the Khari Law, and wants to focus on three main aspects; that daycares are licensed, provide training to persons before being fully employed at these facilities, and that these facilities provide insurance.
“On licensing for daycares: Who can open a daycare? Is there an age limit? Can somebody who is 21 because that person is home can they just decide I have space in my living room so I’m going to open a daycare and start advertising Are these places inspected? Are they certified? Are they safe? Can you have daycares on the second floor of a building with a balcony? Are daycares only supposed to be on the ground floor? These are some things that we are discussing to have included,” she expressed.
In terms of training, Jones stated that caretakers should know how to take care of a child and if they can save them through life-saving measures such as CPR in the event that something happens.
“We can’t have a daycare with ten children and only one person looking after ten children ranging from three months all the way to three years that is crazy and these are things that we want to address.”
In relation to insurance, the parents want to assure that if something happens to a child whilst in the care of the daycare owner, someone is liable for the incident.
“A special thing that we want to talk about [that] will provide some sort of safe security for parents [is] we’ve been looking at some places where they have cameras inside of daycares and parents can access those cameras through apps on their phone so possibly if you want to tune in to see what is going on with your child you can do that,” she added.
She revealed that this idea came to them a few days after the incident and expressed that “this cannot happen again”. She further recalled that a few years ago, a baby passed away at another daycare and that case went cold after a few months.
“I can guarantee you this will not happen in this case. Everyone will remember the name Khari Jones because Khari Jones is going to be the catalyst for change, Khari Jones will be the catalyst for this law, our children in Dominica will be protected. We are not just protecting children from child abuse or from sexual abuse, we need to protect our children from all forms of danger; we cannot leave it up to others to do it for us,” she said.
“Khari Jones will be synonymous with protection for our children. This is something that is very difficult but we feel so strongly about it only because as a parent, as a mother I would not be able to live with myself if we did not do something to use this as a springboard to safeguard other children.”
Jones asserted that this incident is not to be forgotten because it will impact future generations and has expressed how “traumatizing” this experience has been to the extent that if she and her husband were to have another child, she would not be able to trust her child to a daycare.
She stated that this should not be the case for new parents and that they should trust that there is a policy governing this aspect of life.
Ya i fully fully support that move. It is time we set standards in Dominica that are upheld. It is always a case of reactionary measures. Someone has to get hurt or die for something to move. What kills me is 2 to 3 weeks later the movement dies.
While we are so busy blaming the day care, what find the autopsy say? Was it negligence on behalf of the daycare worker or did the child have a condition. I am not judging until the total truth is out
This is so heart breaking I cry watching the funaral of your daughter. Cause it brought back painful memories of my 13 months sister. I’m a parent of two. But I feel both you pain. I’m in support of this law let’s signs some petition let’s get started. I still have one more to make. Lord help us soon to become parents and thoes that are newly parents who has only daycare to go too.
To you the parents I’ll keep you in prayer your angel will help you through out this painful time. And she will not forget you all.
We are in serious times and Jones are doing a great thing to ensure that all future generations, are protected. Too many things in Dominica is relaxed, no protocols no safety measures no rules and regulations.
It is about time that persons who care for children get regulated!
Good job to the parents, and my heart goes out to you both! May God bless your womb and provide you with many more children to come!
As hard as it is I would say parents also have a duty of care and can not abdicate responsibility to ensure the carers are properly qualified to look after their children. Is no different from the “buyer beware” concept. Blind trust and somebody’s recommendation is not an alternative, with or without legislation, which nonetheless I would support of course.
God’s comfort, strength and guidance to this couple.
Out of this very unfortunate tragedy, good in the form of Khari Law can emerge which will help protect children in such environments. The parents have made very pertinent & valid points that will help create better guidelines & structures for the operations of daycares, nurseries and possibly other areas where young children are kept.
The authorities should see this as an opportunity for improvement of such institutions and not procrastinate on it. All the best.
What was the cause of the child’s death?
They did a live broadcast where the father explaining. Check of the DNOs Facebook page
Good Luck. I am sorry to hear about your loss.
Given how things are done in DA, I would not count on much being done, even if they passed legislation. There are lot of laws on the books that are not enforced.
Such a beautiful little Angel. May God give strength to the parents. As a father myself I don’t know how I’d be able to bear such pain of losing my child. But God is the comforter. God Loves the little children.