KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition spokesperson on education and youth Senator Kamina Johnson Smith says Jamaica’s children should be kept out of politics following an incident in which a child died during an alleged political protest.

The incident took place on September 18 when 11-year-old Akella Lewis, who allegedly participated in the protest with other students from the Prickly Pole Primary School, fell ill and died.

She said: “It is sad that the death of a child has been caught up in what is clearly an internal political war and the sorrow that her family and school friends must be going through has been impacted by issues which have nothing to do with the best interests of a child.

“People need to recognise that children should not be involved in protests, whether political or otherwise and persons, especially school personnel, who participate in this kind of practice should be held accountable.”

Johnson Smith said with the allegations and counter-allegations being made, the police should be permitted to conclude their investigations, as should the independent Office of the Children’s Advocate.

“I believe strongly that while the ministers of education and youth both would normally have appropriate roles in matters such as this, by virtue of their actions and those of their agents, the CDA (Child Development Agency) and Ministry of Educations’ investigations appear to have been compromised,” she said.

The senator said that all Jamaicans should look on and recognise that there are no winners in this situation, least of all the child who has lost her life, and her school friends and family who are affected.