Trudy Simpson, Staff Reporter
Lascelles Chin, chairman and CEO of the Lasco Group of Companies (left), Prof. Errol Morrison, CEO of Blue Cross of Jamaica (centre) and Paula Llewelyn, acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) share a joke at the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ)/LASCO annual 'Nurse of the Year' Awards Ceremony, held at the Knutsford Court Hotel on Friday. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
PAULA LLEWELYN, acting director of public prosecution (DPP) on Friday charged Jamaicans to "do the right thing" by coming forward as whistleblowers, witnesses or jurors especially as this relates to to children who have been neglected, killed or injured violently.
Speaking on Friday night at the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ)/Lasco Group of Companies Nurse of the Year Awards ceremony, Ms. Llewelyn reminded Jamaicans that one of the worst actions they could take was to do nothing when they saw evidence of wrong doing.
"What has been happening is an epidemic, a rash of crimes being committed against our children ... robbing them of a normal life ... It takes a whole society to not only raise but protect a child. Are we doing the best thing when it comes to the welfare of our children or are we shrinking violets?" she asked while addressing the packed Blue Mountain suite at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston.
"When we know that children are being abused, are we prepared to be a whistleblower. Are we prepared to go through the court process, to be a witness or a juror ... Ask yourselves these questions and answer in the affirmative," she urged.
APATHETIC OR AFRAID
Ms. Llewelyn said too many persons are apathetic or afraid when they see children being left alone or know when they are being abused.
Between January 1 and July 20, 12 children have been murdered, among them three girls aged six, eight and nine, who were raped and then killed. The murder figure represents an increase of nine per cent over the corresponding period in 2004. One UNICEF report has also shown that 119 children (below 18 years of age) were murdered in Jamaica in 2004. The report said 430 children were shot, and more than 900 were sexually abused last year.
GOVERNMENT PLAN FOR CHILDREN
Last week Alison Anderson, head of the Child Development Agency (CDA), said the Government was to implement a national plan of action aimed at reducing violence against children by year end. The national plan on children and violence is expected to incorporate a multi-level, multi-sector approach to curb violence against children.
But while she welcomed the Government's move, Ms. Llewelyn said the plan was unlikely to be successful if Jamaicans continued to be apathetic or afraid.
"Unless that apathy is overcome, the action plan will be overcome by the selfishness and lethargy of some persons," she said.
During the ceremony, Denese McFarlane, a nursing educator in the Health ministry's critical care training programme was named Nurse of the Year 2005.
