KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness, moved by the circumstances of 14-year-old Tajay Rowe who suffered brain damage during delivery at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital (VJH), today handed over a cheque to relatives of the youngster.

The prime minister said he was particularly moved because he had a relative who suffered a similar fate.

“In my family when I was growing up I had a family member who had a similar illness, a similar challenge as young Taj and I am well aware of the challenges that families would face to support, maintain, and care for persons with such disabilities and so I was very move to reach out to the family,” Holness said following the handing over of the cheque to the family at their home in Union Square Twickenham Park, St Catherine.

Tajay’s mother Tassiana Edwards and grandmother, Yvonne Beckford, are yet to receive the $26 million that was awarded to the family by the State in 2015, following a ruling by the court.

Tajay’s mother and grandmother sued the South East Regional Health Authority and the VJH for damages caused by negligence on the part of the staff at the hospital.

Meanwhile Holness, who declined to state his cheque amount, said that he had instructed the Attorney General to fast track the matter so that the issue of payment to the family through the court will be resolved quickly.

Racquel Porter