The parents of a two-day-old baby were reunited with their child some seven hours after she was stolen from the Victoria Jubilee Hospital (VJH) in Kingston yesterday.

The 20-year-old woman, who was accused of taking the baby, has been charged with child stealing, after the infant was reported to have been found at her home in Duhaney Park, St. Andrew.

Constable Valentino Chambers of the Hannah Town Police Station, said the woman lost a baby recently and it is theorised that she stole the child with the intention of keeping it as her own.

Internal assistance

Constable Chambers said it was still unclear how the woman was able to leave the hospital with the baby, as she gave several stories. He said, however, that he believed she got internal assistance.

"I feel overwhelmed and enthusiastic that I found back my baby. As a young man, I feel that there is now a reason for living. I am on cloud nine right now," Andre Fairclough, the father of the child said yesterday.

He explained that the child had been taken from him by a woman dressed in a pink and white uniform, similar to those worn by ward assistants, while doctors were attending to his girlfriend, Cadisha Fogo.

Several family members had demonstrated outside the entrance to the lobby before the baby had been found. "Mi waan back the baby. Mi waan mi niece," yelled Camille Williams, one of the baby's aunts.

Attempts to contact the hospital for a comment about the incident were unsuccessful.