The mother of a four-year-old boy was severely beaten last week when she tried to get financial support for her child.

She explained that for the last three months, the child's father had not given her any money for the child. "Last week I went to his workplace downtown to ask him for money to buy some clothes and a pair of shoes for our son's Christmas. He became very upset and began to beat me with a piece of stick all over my body," she disclosed.

"He told me that he had two other children and their mother had never come to his workplace bothering him for money. He told me whenever he has money for my child he will take it to give me.

"This man is being very unfair because he does not give me money on a regular basis. I have to use my money at all times to support my son and send him to school.

"My son's father is a furniture maker and he gets jobs but he refuses to give me weekly or monthly financial support for my son. I was going to have him arrested for beating me but his mother begged me not to press charges.

"I find it very difficult at times to support my son and I just cannot allow his father to refuse to carry out his responsibilities.

"Do you think the court will assist me in getting regular support if I file a complaint there?" she queried.

The Maintenance Act places responsibility on parents to maintain their children.

Section 9 of the Act states in part that when a court is making a maintenance order, the court "shall apportion the obligation according to the capacities of the parents to provide support".

You can go to the Family Court in Kingston and speak to one of the court officers, who will advise you how to deal with the matter.