Children Removed from Lockups Last Year

The Ministry of Youth and Culture removed more than 165 children deemed in need of care and protection from police lockups in 2013.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Lisa Hanna, said this was among several significant strides made by the Government over the past year as it regards the care of Jamaica’s children.

Speaking at a press briefing at her New Kingston offices on Wednesday morning, January 15, Ms. Hanna informed that also among the Ministry’s notable achievements for 2013 was the removal of all children from adult correctional facilities.

This, she said, was carried out in collaboration with the Ministries of Justice, and National Security.

“(Additionally), we got an increased budget of 900 per cent to take care of amendments and upgrades to our children’s homes,” she informed.

Ms. Hanna said the Ministry was also successful in fulfilling its commitment to remove the “uncontrollable behaviour” label from children who display extreme behaviour.

“(We) have made significant strides over the past year…so much so that UNICEF (United Nations Children Fund) congratulated the Government of Jamaica, the Ministry of Youth and Culture and its agencies for some of the progressive steps that we took to deal with children and other child-related issues,” she stated.

“So, we came out of 2013 on a trajectory and we will build on that momentum for our children,” Ms. Hanna pledged.