Police continue to look after recovered young accident victim

As soon as Myesha Williams completes her formal education, she wants to join the ranks of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force. The eight-year-old made the declaration just months after being struck by a police vehicle.{{more}}

Commissioner of Police Keith Miller had made a promise to cover all of the child’s medical expenses when she was flown to Trinidad and Tobago for treatment at the St Clair Medical Centre. In addition to that, Miller did the double and presented Williams with a scholarship at the Police Conference Room last Thursday, August 27, 2009.

The grade 2 pupil of C.W. Prescod Primary School was struck by a Sports Utility Vehicle on a pedestrian crossing near the National Lotteries Authority’s tennis court at Richmond Hill on June 9. The vehicle, which is operated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police force, was being driven into Kingstown by police constable Dominic O’Garro.

At the handing over ceremony, Miller said he had wanted Williams to recover fully before she was handed the scholarship documents. He said he received a barrage of negative comments about the way he handled the matter, adding he was even accused of trying to bribe the child and her family, instead of giving them money right away.

“I don’t want to associate myself with those irresponsible statements… All I wanted was for Myesha to get better in order to help her in the long run,” Miller noted.

A shy Myesha, who had her hands folded and cracked a cheeky smile every time the cameras focused on her, said she still felt some pain in her jaw and eyes. When asked what are her favourite subjects in school, Myesha ardently placed Language Arts at the top of her list, along with Mathematics and Social Studies. Myesha expressed love for singing and playing with her friends during her spare time. She also attends Sunday School at the home of Lolita Thomas of Sion Hill.

Myesha’s mother, Stephlana Williams, 29, died just three weeks before the accident.

Williams’ scholarship will take effect the day she begins secondary school and continue through the tertiary level.

Williams’ great-grandmother Esther Woodley thanked the Commissioner for helping Myesha and said she was pleased with the manner in which the police dealt with the entire matter. (KW)