Horace Fisher, Star Writer

Mayor of May Pen, Councillor Scean Barnswell says there needs to be continuous counselling for the trauma-affected children and parents of the April 15 quadruple killing in the Monymusk Housing Scheme.

The may Pen mayor also reiterated the need for tangible projects in the affected community as a social-interaction point and to help in the healing process.

"What we need to do is to carry out a programme in which we ensure that those children who were close to those who had lost their lives and are traumatised, that we have some continuous counselling sessions with them. The parents themselves need to go through this also," Mayor Barnswell said.

Resource centre

"But I think we need to establish something that is more substantial in the area, whether it is a homework centre, resource centre or a recreational centre which isn't there, so the children can go there to interact and socialise and try to remove that fear from the community," he added.

According to the mayor, the intervention from various agencies, government and community groups had so far played a major role in the healing process and has prepared the affected families for the final rites. He, however, laments that, as the funeral arrangements get closer, the families may relive the April 15 horror all over.

He noted that the adult (Marquis Hamilton) was buried over the weekend, and another two of the teenagers will be laid to rest this coming Saturday and Sunday, while the other teen will be buried the following weekend.