The Child Development Agency (CDA) is calling on community members to be more proactive in reporting incidents of child abuse. Reports of abuse, neglect and abandonment are received and investigated by the CDA, which determines the steps to be taken in the best interest of the child. Information on child abuse is also received by the Office of the Children’s...

The Development Agency’s (CDA) capacity to effectively address incidents of child abuse has been boosted through the beefing up of staff in its Investigation Unit. Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CDA, Rosalee Gage Grey, told JIS News that the unit now has a manager and 10 investigation officers deployed island-wide. Most of the officers have been placed in the South...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, says a special team will be appointed to meet with elders of the Rastafarian community, to discuss the tragic Coral Gardens incident which took place some 50 years ago. “As a responsible government, regardless of which party was in power at that time, I know you’re looking to my administration to help...

Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, has informed that Cabinet, on August 12, approved the drafting of an amendment to the Child Care and Protection Act. This has been done, Mr. Golding said, so that so-called “uncontrollable” children cannot be sent to correctional facilities, “even if their parents wish it.” The Minister was addressing the opening of a...

Jamaica’s independence celebrations in the New York tri-state area will come to a climax on Saturday, August 17, when the Jamaica Independence Celebration Foundation, Inc (JICFI) stages the annual Independence Ball in commemoration of Jamaica’s 51st year of independence. This prestigious event will bring together just over 1,500 Jamaicans and friends of Jamaica at the New York Hilton Hotel in...

Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna, said the Independence theme this year - ‘Celebrating Jamaica: Triumphant, Proud, Free’ - was a call for all Jamaicans at home and overseas, “to consider the hurdles we have cleared as a nation, and the pride we must continue to display in ourselves and in our achievements.” She pointed out that Independence...

The Ministry of Youth and Culture updated Cabinet on Monday, August 12 on the staging of this year’s Independence activities. The Ministry disclosed that the total cost of staging the Independence activities at both the parish and nation levels over the seven (7) day period was $87 million. These activities included: Parish church services, National Independence Thanksgiving Service, Mello Go...