Youth minister condemns violence against children

Youth minister Lisa Hanna, in condemning the perpetrators of violence on the nation's children, has indicated that the Child Development Agency (CDA) has deployed a team of first-responders to communities where the incidents have occurred.

Victims and families of victims will be provided with grief counselling and other kinds of support.

"The CDA has already responded and has done preliminary intervention. However, over the next two weeks, the Ministry of Youth and Culture, through the CDA, will be partnering with the Office of the Children's Registry and other supporting agencies to host parenting sensitisation sessions in these communities, as well as in the schools the children attend.

"These sessions will, among other things, focus on coping with grief, child-care and protection, as well as approaches to discipline," the minister said.

These interventions form part of the CDA's existing First-Responders Programme, under which officers are deployed across the island to visit communities and families traumatised by violence, death of a child, caregiver or where a child has witnessed violence, or in instances where a family has been affected by natural or man-made disasters.

Minister Hanna noted that in light of the recent cases involving 14-year-old Santoya Campbell of Frome in Westmoreland, and three-year-old Crystal Coleman of St Mary, who were reportedly murdered, and 14-year-old Treshauna Henry, also from St Mary, whose cause of death is still unknown, the CDA will take a tailored approach to address the immediate needs of the families, communities and schools involved.

Newborn trashed

The minister added that the discovery of a newborn in a garbage bin in Ocho Rios, St Ann is also very horrifying and has called on all well-thinking Jamaicans to exercise greater levels of care, love and support to the nation's children, and be more vigilant in safeguarding their lives.

"I am horrified by the sudden upsurge of violence targeting our children," the minister said. "I strongly condemn these murders and other deaths."