Preparations are in high gear for this year’s staging of the annual Salt Spring Literacy Summer camp, which is being spearheaded by the St. James Police Community Safety and Security Branch (CSSB). Some 100 children between the ages of six and 17 years are expected to benefit from the camp, which will include virtual classes and field trips. The camp...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, is condemning all forms of violence against the nation’s children. The Prime Minister was speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 20), where he addressed the case of Nashawn Brown, a four-year-old who was severely beaten by his stepdad. He subsequently died. Mr. Holness said the incident has again brought to...

More than 400 Justices of the Peace (JPs) across the island participated in a virtual sensitisation discussion on Child Abuse in Jamaica, on July 15. It was hosted by the Minister of Justice,  Hon. Delroy Chuck, to strengthen the capacity of the JPs to provide access to justice information within communities and the wider public. Chief Executive Officer of the...

The problem of children living and working on the streets is one of the issues to be addressed by the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), through a series of targeted interventions. One key intervention will be undertaken through the agency’s overarching ‘Positive Parenting’ campaign, aimed at addressing all the ills the nation’s children are facing, including corporal punishment...

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, working with the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), has developed a policy to accelerate family-type placement of children three years and under entering State care. “This will ensure that children zero to three years old, who have entered State care, are placed in an approved placement under a foster-care arrangement until...

Some $30 million has been allocated in the 2021/22 fiscal year to effect repairs to Youth Information Centres (YICs). This was disclosed by Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Fayval Williams, during a statement to the House of Representatives on July 13. “The status of 2020/2021 carried-forward projects are seven YICs – repairs are completed. The estimates are being...

The Child Care and Protection Act is being reviewed to address new and emerging issues and to ensure harmonisation with other pieces of legislation concerning children. “The process is advanced, as a draft Cabinet Submission has been developed to seek approval for the recommendations that were made in the Report of the Joint Select Committee of the Houses of Parliament,”...