The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A TEEN resident of the Willie Mae Pratt Centre for Girls died yesterday morning after an apparent suicide, the Ministry of Social Services and Community Development said yesterday.

Royal Bahamas Police Force Chief Superintendent Paul Rolle said Her Majesty's Coroner was in charge of the investigation.

The teen had been in the centre for a week. She has been identified by relatives as Tasha McDonald.

A brief press statement from the ministry read: "The Ministry of Social Services and Community Development wishes to inform the public of an apparent suicide by a resident of the Willie Mae Pratt Centre for Girls (yesterday) morning. The police were immediately called and the matter is now under investigation.

"The family of the resident was notified and upon arrival at the centre was informed of the matter. The ministry extends sincere condolences to the family."

The statement also said that "grief counselling" was being provided for the staff and other residents of the centre.

"Her Majesty's Coroner is in charge of this investigation," Chief Supt Rolle said. "She was (here) and the police are assisting her, so we can confirm that a female in-ward is deceased and Her Majesty's coroner will be taking over from here."

The Willie Mae Centre has had problems in the past. In 2012 a 16-year-old resident of the centre tried to commit suicide. According to the ministry, she was rushed to the Princess Margaret Hospital and later transferred to the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre.

In August that year, FNM Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner, the former minister of social services, said a "near riot" three months earlier had resulted in six inmates being remanded to Her Majesty's Prison, now the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. Mrs Butler-Turner also said at that time that residents were "constantly breaking the residences up" and pulling toilets "right out of the floor."

When contacted by The Tribune yesterday, Mrs Butler-Turner said she was "very sad" to learn about "the loss of life" of the individual and said once parliament reconvenes she would ask for "full disclosure" of yesterday's events.

"As the shadow minister for social services, which has responsibility for the Willie Mae Centre and the Simpson Penn school for boys, I was very saddened to learn of the suicide of one of our young wards that was in the care of the state," she said.

"I'd like to express my deep and heartfelt condolences to the family of this young woman, and whenever I am able to at the next sitting of Parliament, I will be calling for full details and explanations of the events that happened at the school."