Corinaldi Avenue Primary Wins JCDC Inaugural Trafficking in Persons Musical Finals

Corinaldi Avenue Primary School in St. James is the first winner of the human trafficking category in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s (JCDC) National Music Finals.

The school’s entry, ‘My Life, My Right’ won from runner-up Muschett High School in Trelawny, in the finals of the competition held on Wednesday, April 15, at the Little Theatre in Kingston. The school also won at the parish level.

In an interview with JIS News, Manager of the National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons (NATFATIP), Keisha West, congratulated Corinaldi Avenue Primary.

“Corinaldi’s piece was very emotive and really captured the components of trafficking – activity, means and purpose. We are really happy for them and grateful for the effort that they put into their piece,” she said.

Music teacher at Corinaldi Avenue Primary School, Gavin Lindo, was thrilled that his school copped the inaugural award.

Mr. Lindo told JIS News that in preparing for the competition, he sat down with his students and explained the facets of human trafficking.

“I wanted them to express themselves from an informed position and not with just words and lips. I am happy that we won and I hope the song is recorded and used to spread the word about human trafficking,” he expressed.

The NATFATIP is using the performing arts to increase awareness among young people about the problem of human trafficking, and also provide them with tips to reduce their vulnerability.

“The traffickers are very cunning and will come to you in various forms in order for you to be persuaded and yield to their offers. It is very important for persons to be educated in order to decrease vulnerability,” Ms. West told the students present at the JCDC National Music Finals.

Corinaldi Avenue Primary and Muschett High were the only entrants in the finals of the ‘Human Trafficking’ category. Muschett’s entry was titled:  ‘Tell Me Why’.

In addition to using the performing arts to educate young people about human trafficking, the NATFATIP partners with agencies such as the Office of the Children’s Registry (OCR) to conduct sensitisation sessions in schools, churches and communities islandwide.