Call Out The Abusers – Senator Morris

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth & Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, is imploring Jamaicans not to turn a blind eye to cases of abuse against the nation’s women and children.

She was speaking at the service of thanksgiving for the life of nine-year-old Kelsey Ferrigon at the Spanish Town Seventh-day Adventist Church in St. Catherine on Monday (June 9).

Senator Morris Dixon noted that there are far too many cases of abuse happening across the island.

“If you look around in this room today, I am telling you there are children in here who are currently being abused. When I talk to the guidance counsellors, they tell me about the young girls coming to them, and young boys too, talking about the abuse they are going through at home,” the Minister said.

She emphasised that the unfortunate abuse perpetrated against Kelsey is not an isolated incident.

The former St John’s Primary School student was found dead at her home on Job Lane in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, on May 9.

While paying tribute to the nine-year-old, Senator Morris Dixon urged persons who know of instances where abuse is taking place to inform the relevant authorities.

“We need to stop pretending that those who are in our family are innocent; they are not innocent. It is up to us to play our role in calling out these people. It doesn’t help us when we say, oh, he’s my family member… he’s my brother… he’s my cousin. It doesn’t help us. And so, we have to commit… as a country, as a people… not to have this perpetuate,” the Minister said.

She encouraged the children present at Kelsey’s funeral to inform an adult if they believe they are in danger.

Senator Morris Dixon also urged adults to believe children when they say they are being abused and to contact the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) in such instances.

“The CPFSA team is here. They are here to help you. They will help you to navigate what needs to be navigated,” the Minister assured.

“Too often when I go to the schools, I hear the stories of our young children being abused. It is now becoming normal, and we cannot have it become normal. That’s not the society we want to be in,” she lamented.

Senator Morris Dixon reiterated that it is the duty of adults in the society to protect all children and create safe spaces for them.

“It is our collective responsibility to identify, report, and treat with the tendencies that result in violence so that we do not have to continue to mourn the loss of innocent children. As adults, we must all strive to be role models for every boy and girl with whom we interact,” the Minister pointed out.

In her tribute to Kelsey, Custos of St. Catherine, Hon. Icylin Golding, similarly called for an end to abuse against the nation’s children.

“This abuse must stop. We are the ones to protect our innocent children. Abuse in all forms must stop. We must stand up against all forms of evil… all forms of abuse,” the Custos said.