Help me get my son back

Tell Claudienne

With Claudienne Edwards

Sunday, February 05, 2012

Dear Claudienne

On June 14, 2010, my three-year-old son who was born in Britain was abducted by his father from my home in rural St Catherine. I had lived with him in England for a while, but ended the relationship with the father prior to the birth of my son.

On the day that he took my son he came to my house and we had a brief conversation. He lured the boy into the car he had driven and sped off with him.

I reported the matter to the police and they carried out an investigation, but my son was not found.

The police carried out further investigations and informed me that the father left the island with my son on June 22, 2010 at 5:36 pm destined for London, England.

The father called me from England in July 2010 and told me that he would never let me see my son again and he would tell him that I am deceased.

As a result of this situation I suffered a stroke.

I would like to regain custody of my son but it is difficult for me to stay in Jamaica and do this. I would need to go to the United Kingdom. I would be grateful for your help.

Dear FG

We spoke to the British High Commission and note that they called you. The High Commission also met with you and advised you that in order to apply for a visa to go to England you needed to get a letter from the police.

Tell Claudienne also called the Miinistry of Foreign Affairs and spoke with the Director of Diaspora and Consular Affairs. He said that your case was investigated but they could not confirm that your son was abducted.

The Director explained that you and your son's father never went to court to establish which of you should have custody of the child. In those circumstances the father of the child had a right to see him. He said that the Jamaican High Commission in the UK tried to contact the father but was unsuccessful as they did not have an address for him, so could not establish if the child was abducted.

The Director said that if you were able to seek the services of a lawyer in the UK, he/she could help you to advance the matter in the courts.

As you lived in the UK for a period of time your immigration history would have some bearing on your ability to get a visa to return to the UK.

"What is her immigration history?Did she have legal residency when she was there? Was her record clean? If her record is not clean it would affect her application for a visa," the director said.

You should assess your options and decide how to proceed.

Good luck.

Dear Claudienne

My common-law husband who was a soldier died of natural causes sometime ago. We had two children. I would like to know if the children are entitled to any benefits from the government. What should I do?

Dear LM

According to the Ministry of Finance you should write to the Deputy Financial Secretary, Public Service Establishment Division, Ministry of Finance, 30 National Heroes Circle, Kingston. You will need to provide the ministry with a copy of his death certificate, proof of his employment with the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF, your name and status with the soldier, as well as the age of the children.

Good luck.

Have a problem with a store, utility, a company? Telephone 936-9436 or write to: Tell Claudienne c/o Sunday Finance, Jamaica Observer, 40-42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue, Kingston 5; or e-mail: edwardsc@jamaicaobserver.com. Please include a contact phone number.