Gender Bureau to Work Closer With Entities Investigating Sexual Offences

The Bureau of Gender Affairs (BGA) is being restructured to enable the agency to work more closely with entities involved in the investigation of sexual offences.

Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister, Hon. Olivia Grange, who has portfolio responsibility for the BGA, says this will include assigning social officers to the Bureau to work with the various agencies.

She made the announcement during the Caribbean Court of Justice’s (CCJ) local launch of the Model Guidelines for Sexual Offence Cases in the Caribbean Region, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston on Friday (Nov. 24).

In an interview with JIS NEWS after her presentation, Ms. Grange explained that in instances where incidents occur and the Bureau is not involved in the investigative and resolution processes, the information available to both herself and the agency “is second-hand and third-hand.”

“Sometimes, you will find things falling between the cracks because there is not enough coordination between the relevant entities,” she said, noting that the attendant trauma endured by sexual offence victims and their family requires specialised support.

“I want the Bureau to be involved and right up front working closely with all of the agencies in addressing these issues. What we will be ensuring is that we have additional social workers to work along with the various entities and stakeholders in ensuring that we are there on the ground with them right through to resolving those matters.

“So the Bureau is going to have that special role to ensure that we follow through on commitments that are made (and) the step by step actions that need to be taken,” she noted further.