Trudy Simpson, Staff Reporter
HAY-WEBSTER
FED UP with what she said are growing cases of child sexual abuse, Sharon Hay-Webster, Member of Parliament for St. Catherine South Central, said last week that she will be renewing calls for the establishment of a registry of sex offenders at today's meeting of the House of Representatives.
She also wants victims and affected communities notified when sex offenders are released from prison.
"... I will be bringing it back into the House and this time I am not giving up. If I have to bring a new resolution back every month, so be it," declared Mrs Hay-Webster.
INCREASE IN RAPE CASES
According to parliamentary records, Mrs. Hay-Webster first gave notice of a resolution looking at the issue on June 19, 2001. Her resolution last appeared on the order paper of March 26, 2002. The resolution pointed to an increase in cases of rape, carnal abuse and incest, the trauma caused and the fact that perpetrators tend to repeat sex crimes.
She asked that Parliament's Human Resources and Social Development committee "conduct a comprehensive study of the social implications of these offences". The resolution also requested that Sections 44 to 57 of the Offences Against the Person Act be reviewed and amendments made to the "appropriate sections, which should also include the notification of victims and the wider community once the perpetrator is released."
Shirley Lewis, Clerk to the Houses of Parliament, said yesterday that records show that the matter was referred to the Human Resources and Social Development Committee but was not discussed.
Recently, six-year-old Shaneika Anderson was discovered raped and murdered in bushes near Rae Town, east Kingston.
