The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

THE newborn baby boy, found in bushes in southwest New Providence last week, will remain in the Princess Margaret Hospital for eight weeks before becoming a ward of the state, Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin said yesterday.

In an interview with The Tribune, Mrs Griffin said once all the necessary medical precautions are taken, if no one has come forward to claim the baby, he will be taken to a children’s home and/or placed in foster care.

Last Friday, the baby boy was found alive in bushes off Carmichael Road with his umbilical cord still attached.

According to police, the infant was discovered shortly after 7am by a good Samaritan. Area residents reportedly found the abandoned baby after they said they heard crying all through the rainy night.

The baby was taken to the hospital where, Mrs Griffin said, he is thriving and healthy. She thanked members of the public for donating clothing and food items to the infant - who has yet to be officially named.

“The normal procedure is once we are ensured that everything is okay and the baby is in good health, the next step would be for the child to be placed in the care of the minister or care of the state,” Mrs Griffin said.

“The child will then be cared for by one of the children’s homes. The next procedure would be to wait and see what the result of the police investigation is. If the child is not claimed then there is a process for placement which can be done through an adoption agency. We already have persons who have been vetted as possible adoptive parents, but we also have children’s homes that the baby can be placed in.”

Mrs Griffin appealed to persons who may be thinking of abandoning their baby or having second thoughts about being a parent to reach out to Social Services for assistance.

“We want persons to know if they are unable to take care of an infant or a child to come to us and we will walk you through the process of what it takes to put your child in the care of the state,” she said.

“No one is advising persons to leave babies in the hospital but some mothers have done it and in those cases Social Services have stepped in. You can leave your baby in the hospital but not just up and leave - you can speak to someone before or after having the child about placing the child in the care of the state.

“There are options. We appreciate all the help we have received from the public and everything persons have donated to assist with the child. He is healthy and happy and doing very well.”

Police are still searching for the infant’s mother. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.