07/02/2014
CONDEMNS BRUTAL MURDER OF 8 YEAR OLD SELENA EDMOND; CALLS FOR UPDATE ON S*X OFFENDERS REGISTRY #
Kingston, Jamaica: Generation 2000, the young professional affiliate of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), condemns the brutal murder of young Selena Edmond, whose body was found in bushes in St Thomas on Monday, February 1, 2013.
The organisation notes with much disgust that vicious crimes against women and children are now commonplace across the island and commends the swift action of the members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force in apprehending a suspect in the investigations. .
Mr. Alando Terrelonge, legal advisor of G2K, said that “it is heart wrenching that yet another Jamaican family is left to mourn the loss of a child. As a nation we must ask ourselves how did we fail this innocent little girl and so many others like her over the years? Have we ensured that our police force is equipped with the best tools and training to apprehend the perpetrators of these heinous crimes? Have we enacted adequate legislation and devised comprehensive policing strategies to guarantee that persons guilty of these crimes do not escape justice?”
According to Ms. Tamika Peart, chairperson of the Gender Affairs Committee, women and children are two of the most vulnerable groups in our society and not enough is being done to stem the violence committed against them daily. Peart says, “they say it takes a village to raise a child, but it also takes a village a save a child’s life. We must break the culture of silence and report all acts of violence committed against our women and children. Our silence only serves to encourage those who prey upon women and children to commit more gruesome acts of violence against them.”
G2K sends condolences to Selena’s parents, family, teachers and classmates.
S*x Offenders Registry
The organisation indicated that it is unacceptable that despite the necessary legislative framework being implemented for the S*x Offender’s registry, the registry is still not operational.
“The Minister of National Security continues to talk a good talk but when it comes to action he is found woefully inadequate. He must update the Nation on the status of the National S*x Offenders registry. He cannot continue to pump millions of dollars into Public Relations campaigns while these critical initiatives fall by the wayside, and lip service is paid to our international obligations to UNICEF and CEDAW to adequately protect our women and children.” added Peart.
The Organisation urged Parliament to immediately consider the call by Senator Kamina Johnson Smith for the Offences against the Persons Act and the Child Care and Protection Act to be amended to impose harsher penalties for crimes against women and children. The organisation also renewed its call on the Minister of National Security to ensure the tabling and passage of the DNA legislation before March 2014.
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