Tivoli violence ‘could scar’ children

Children in Tivoli Gardens and other Kingston communities could be psychologically scarred by days ofgun battles, a clinical psychologist has said.Dr Karen Richards said children struggling to come to grips withgraphic violence suffer from behavioural shifts.She also said they may become fearful and angry.“The children could have brief emotional and behavioural problems, which is normal. They could start having disturbed sleeping patterns, changes in appetite, clingy attitudes, and they could even go back to behaviour that is younger than their ages,” Richards said.RegressionRegressive behaviours among grown children, such as bed-wetting, crying and thumb-sucking, could become commonplace inbattlefield communities.The outbreak of violence across the western end of Jamaica’s capital was sparked by an assault on Tivoli Gardens, as the security forces sought to arrest Christopher “Dudus” Coke, a reputed Mafioso who the United States wants extradited to face gunrunning and drug-trafficking charges.Security personnel conducted house-to-house searches to purge the community of thugs who barricaded the accused don’s mini-republic.Dozens of civilians, including allegedenemy combatants, have been slain.Richards said parents and other family members in Tivoli Gardens and surrounding communities may be having a hard time explaining the gravity of the situationto children.She also said the events which unfolded may also result in increased levels of aggression.ConfusionRichards noted thatthe exchange of gunfire between thugs and security forces could cause children to have a senseof confusion about the legitimacy of the symbols of law and order, leading children to become fearful of the police.“I wonder if some of those children will begin to see armed forces as the bad guys,” Richards said. “The parents, in dealing with the situation, should explain who is the protector and the threat,” she said.“I’ve come across children who come from some really difficult communities that are exposed to gunfire all the time and police raids, and they’ve become very frightened of the police.”Tivoli Gardens hashad a hostile relationship with the security forcesfor decades, as gunmen have used the densely populated area as abase from which to launch attacks – against lawmen andrival gangs – even from high-rise buildings.(Reprinted fromThe Jamaica Gleaner)