Residents: Care worker assaulted teen

(CMR) Chris Ann Harris, a care worker at the Francis Bodden Children's Home, is being accused by residents of assaulting a 13-year-old child at the facility and “giving her a busted lip.” Despite these serious allegations, the police have shared that they have no reports about the incident, leaving many to wonder what reporting protocol was followed.

Teen residents reached out to CMR and shared that the incident which took place last week has not been properly handled.

Their version of events is that the worker was staring at the young lady, which made her uncomfortable and prompted her to ask why Harris was looking at her in that manner. The teen then “coughed in her face,” which resulted in Harris hitting her, busting her lip, and then restraining her on the ground.

The teen also sustained injuries to her fingers, and no professional medical assistance was provided to the teen, nor was a welfare check conducted.

While the residents shared that police were called, the police have confirmed there is no report on file. The residents are also worried that the worker's claim that she was first assaulted by the teen and responded in self-defense is completely false.

In another recent report, the police were called after a staff member “locked out a resident.” The Bodden Town Police Station went to the location and attended the scene. They took the footage, and it has been shared by exclusive sources that they determined that the resident was locked out on purpose. It is not known what disciplinary action will be taken.

Harris is a former employee at the airport. She has a bachelor's degree in social work from the Jamaica Theological Seminary and worked as a social worker intern for five months in Jamaica.

In other CAYS Foundation news, CMR understands that the Bonaventure home is closing, and these male residents there would be relocated to the Francis Bodden location. Jennifer Leach-Tippetts, the Manager at the home has recently tendered her resignation effective  July 29.

According to correspondence, she sent out to staff she has a “new and exciting opportunity working in the private sector.”

Leach-Tippetts makes no reference to the closure but instead shares that a recruitment exercise should soon commence for her replacement. Sources have also shared that Keith Boyle is being pegged as the favorite candidate for the position despite not having a Master's degree and other qualifications many see as essential for such a critical role.