The Concerned Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda has presented its concept document on the Chantel Alert system to Acting Commissioner of Police Everton Jeffers and Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin for its implementation.
President of the group Dr Jacqui Quinn made the recommendation for such an alert to be put in place following the kidnapping and killing of nine-year-old Chantel Crump.
Crump was kidnapped on Wednesday March 12 some 100 feet from her Grays Farm home and her body was found on Saturday March 15 in the Weatherills area.
Dr Quinn spoke about the concept document of the missing child alert system on Observer AM yesterday (March 25), stating that the document was hand delivered to both the commissioner of police and the attorney general.
“In the document, we give a history of the AMBA Alert System, draw on the uncanny parallels between Amber Rene Hagerman and Chantel Ariel Crump, who were both nine- years-old when they were abducted and murdered. We offer recommended criteria for Chantel Alert issuance, (and) explain how the Chantel Alerts work,” Dr Quinn said.
She shared some of the meticulous details outlined in the document, one of which is that law enforcement officials will issue Chantel Alerts with photos and information about missing children and possible abductors.
This alert is specifically for children aged 17 and under who are reported missing.
“Information should be as detailed as possible. Name, age, height, complexion of child, clothing worn to include color of shoes, sandals, socks, hair appendages, such as ribbons, bows, clips, hats.
“If a child has distinctive hairstyle, such as locks, braids, plaits, afro, shaven head, et cetera, these should be included. Color and size of bags, backpacks, et cetera. Any distinctive visible marks. Missing children and possible abductors, along with contact numbers to report sightings or provide information,” the Concerned Citizens president said.
Dr Quinn noted that Chantel Alerts will be broadcast via radio and television stations and Cable TV outlets, which will use the emergency alert system to inform the public about a missing child.
She said the information would also include the make and model of vehicles, licence plate numbers, colour and other distinguishing features such as tint or has a sunroof.
Once an alert is disseminated all regular programming would be interrupted and will be broadcast on all radio stations in Antigua and Barbuda.
Dr Quinn said ABS radio and television, cable TV, Observer Radio, Liberty Radio-ZDK, Progressive FM, among others, have been listed in the concept document.
She said that the CAP app and other systems currently in use by the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) and the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services (MET) for tsunami exercises and hurricane watches and warnings will also be utilized.
“Chantel Alerts will be re-disseminated through all digital electronic billboards, internet ad exchanges, internet service providers, internet search engines, as well as wireless devices, such as mobile phones, INET, Digicel, Flow, ACT (Antigua Computer Technology).
“We are very satisfied at Concerned Citizens that this is a comprehensive, well-researched document using the AMBER Alert system, mainly as a template, but configuring it to suit our geographical, socioeconomic, and cultural permutations. And we are very hopeful that the police and the government will find useful elements in this document, which can be implemented almost immediately,” Dr Quinn expressed.
She said that the memory of the nine-year-old “will live on through the implementation of this Missing Child Alert system, bringing a public good to our communities and to our humanity.”
Meanwhile, Sir Steadroy has confirmed to the Concerned Citizens president that appropriate actions have already been taken regarding this matter and a system will be put in place shortly.
