Cry for protection – Jamaica Observer

Over the past week, we have received reports from UNICEF Jamaica and Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL) on the alarming situation of violence against children and women. As we reflect on the horror stories of children suffering from physical and psychological abuse, we need to remember that this trauma can lead to dangerous behavior in adulthood. One man who abused women admitted to a counselor that he was seeking revenge for beatings he received from his caregiver. Others become loving parents, making sure their children never suffer the same fate.

The passage of the Child Safety and Protection Act in 2004 was a godsend for our children. Not only does it provide strict penalties for child abuse, but it also prosecutes people who do not report child abuse.

Among UNICEF’s 12 recommendations:

• adopt and implement legislation prohibiting corporal punishment of children in all settings (under 18 years of age);

• strengthen legislation restricting children and adolescents’ access to firearms and other weapons;

• strengthen and expand programs for parents and caregivers aimed at reducing violence, abuse and neglect of children and adolescents;

• Strengthen and expand school prevention programs.

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (IDEVAW), November 25, was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1999. The date was chosen to commemorate the murder of the Mirabell sisters in Santo Domingo on November 25, 1960, due to their activism for women’s rights against dictator Rafael Trujillo.

Last Thursday, JASL launched an EU-funded project called “Promoting Human Rights and Access to Justice for Priority Populations in Jamaica.” Today they will lead a silent march from the Police Officers Club to the Half-Way-Tree Transportation Center in honor of IDEVAW.

At Alicia Smith’s Jamaican columnist In the report, she noted that police received nearly 8,000 reports of domestic violence in 2022. Over the past two years, Jamaica has been rocked by cases of domestic violence in which women and children have died. When we visited a women’s shelter, we saw smart women and their children hiding from monstrous partners and fathers.

It’s not easy to get rid of a murderous partner. One woman, abused by a now-deceased “don”, planned to escape after he broke her arm and she was hospitalized. Her family picked her up at the hospital and took her to the deep countryside where they thought she would never be found… until a convoy of luxury cars sped through the area and she was kidnapped, returning her to her miserable life. When the news of his death came, she ran out of the house without a single baggage and was finally able to reunite with her family. We have no idea how many women are currently in comparable situations.

The calls from UNICEF and JASL should motivate us to observe and act in our communities, schools and workplaces. Our churches also provide a safe space for these messages. Let us redouble our efforts to eradicate this monster of violence from the lives of our children and women.

ADDRESS BY ARTHUR HALL

Last Wednesday, I joined other media veterans to celebrate new entrants into our space of incredible experiences in our exciting world. The Veterans Awards Luncheon is one of the events of National Journalism Week 2024, which runs from Sunday, November 17, 2024 to Monday, November 25, 2024, under the theme “The Power of the Media: Shaping Democracy or Serving an Agenda?”

Congratulations to the veterans honored: Barbara Gale, Neville Bell, Arthur Hall, Joseph Wellington and Durrant Pate. Some of them are young people of my time, so I felt like a proud aunt listening to quotes praising their courage and honesty.

The response on behalf of the recipients again brought up the topic of violence, as Arthur Hall recalled the trauma he suffered after visiting the crime scene where a mother and her child were killed. He shared this for weeks after being haunted by the images, resulting in insomnia and a lack of appetite. He asked media executives to ensure programs were in place to improve the mental health of their reporters. These are the consequences of violence that traumatizes the psyche of our country itself. This should never be “old news.”

TECHNOLOGY HONES JCA

Dr. Velma Ricketts Walker, Director General/Commissioner of the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA), has given us confidence that we have public sector initiatives that protect our people and drive efficiencies. Her presentation took place at the recent 23rd Annual Customs Seminar of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC).

Dr. Ricketts Walker shared JCA’s mission: “Facilitate trade, protect our borders, optimize revenue collection through collaborative border management and providing high quality customer service, and develop and maintain a team of motivated, professional and competent employees.”

She mentioned the World Customs Organization’s call for digital transformation by embracing a data culture and creating a data ecosystem. She shared her model, impressing us with its emphasis on management, competence and staff skills. We have already seen the results of this modernization: improved customer service and the reduction of some labor-intensive stages of processing imported goods. What a great example for other public sector bodies.

DAVID HERON’S DEBUT ON HBO

Award-winning playwright and actor David Heron received his first major screen award at HBO as an acting and dialogue coach for his five-episode television seriesb.Take Millie Black which premieres today. Heron noted that the producers “were committed to their craft and determined to portray ‘yaad’ as authentically as possible in this pulsating crime drama set almost exclusively on the streets of Jamaica.” He congratulated writer and creator Marlon James and actor China McQueen, “who are making screen debuts for the ages.” Congratulations, David!

GOODBYE BEAUTIFUL JAMAICAANS

The Alpha Mercy Academy family mourns the loss of our senior alumna, Carmen Elaine Robertson Brown. Mercy Associates recognized her in 2022 as she interacted with students and enjoyed their songs.

Her daughter Jean Moss-Solomon describes her as “the root of our family and our faith, from which, through her selfless and simple life, we first learned the love of God, the love of family, the love of neighbor, the love of country.” . Our condolences to the family and may our example rest in eternal peace.

The St Andrew Justices of the Peace (SAJP) are forever grateful for the kindness of hotel owner Glen Bromfield, who recently passed away. Bromfield gave SAJP a beautifully furnished office for many years to come. Its Medallion Hall provided an affordable alternative for meetings and celebrations, and its welcoming warmth was transferred to its excellent staff. For many years he also donated property on Lady Musgrave Road for an orphanage and also founded an educational resource center in his home parish of St Elizabeth.

Bromfield was a founder of the Jamaica Union Travelers Association (JUTA) and was honored in 2022 by the Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association (JHTA) for his 50 years of contribution to the tourism industry. We express our condolences to his family; May his generous soul rest in peace.

Jean Lowry-Chin is an author, communications expert, and advocate for older adults. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or [email protected].