Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer
A family of four was burnt to death after their home was firebombed by several armed men at Barnes Avenue, off Maxfield Avenue in Kingston, on Wednesday, October 5. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
FROM KINGSTON'S crime-ridden ghettoes to the sugar fields of Westmoreland, Jamaica's children have become the prey of predators this year. More than a year since the Child Care and Protection Act (CCPA) was passed in the Senate, there have been several gruesome attacks on youth in this country.
"We've been having so many serious crimes against children this year, it's extremely frightening," says Inspector Grace Gordon, who is attached to the Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA).
Insp. Gordon did not readily have statistics for crimes committed against children since the start of the year, but in August, Allison Anderson of the Child Development Agency (CDA), was quoted by the Jamaica Information Service as saying that 14,000 cases of child abuse are reported to that organisation annually.
EPICENTRE OF VIOLENCE
Ms. Anderson also noted that 60,000 persons had approached the CDA which is part of the Ministry of Health for various forms of assistance. St. Catherine, with 15,000 cases, leads the 14 parishes with the number of complaints.
Ironically, although Kingston and St. Andrew are the epicentre of violence in Jamaica, the CDA reports that rural parishes such as St. Thomas, St. Catherine, Trelawny, St. James and Hanover, also have high levels of crime against children.
The youth have not escaped the violence that has scarred Jamaica for over a decade. Indeed, some of the most violent incidents in 2005 have involved children. They include:
The triple murder of siblings Dwayne Davidson, 15, Sue-Ann Gord, 13 and four year-old Shadice Williams in the district of Kilancholly, St. Mary in February shocked the nation. One man is in custody in relation to this incident.
Shana-Kay Legister, nine, and Sheneka Shakes, eight, were reported missing June 30 in Westmoreland. Their bodies were discovered in a cane field in the Town Head district of Westmoreland the following day.
Ten-year-old Zidan Linton was one of five persons murdered at a football match in Ewarton on September 25. The killer, identified only as Eddie, was also shot and killed.
On September 27, three-month-old Quwayne Ross and his mother, 23-year-old Jashrene Reid, were murdered by gunmen at their home in Jacques Road, off Mountain View Avenue. No arrests have been made.
Two 13-year-old students from the Charlie Smith and Trench Town high schools in the South St. Andrew constituency were reportedly shot and raped on September 29, in separate incidents there.
October has also been a bloody month. Sasha-Kay Brown, 10, was burnt to death along with her grandparents and aunt at their Barnes Avenue home off Maxfield Avenue. Police say the fire was set by gunmen. No arrests have been made.
On Thursday, the body of 15-year-old Enid Gordon was discovered by her father in a shallow grave in Content district, Westmoreland. She was strangled. Three men are in custody for her murder, but none have been charged.
No arrests have been made in the Trench Town High School and Barton Avenue
incidents.
According to Insp. Gordon, rape is the most common crime against youth reported to CISOCA which was established by the Jamaica Constabulary Force in 1989.
COUNSELLING TO VICTIMS
She says abuse by parents is also high on the list of reported offences to CISOCA which offers initial counselling to victims before referring them to the Victims' Support Unit, the Child Guidance Clinic at the Bustamante Children's Hospital or the Women's Crisis Centre.
"Many of the girls (who are raped) who come to us are not only from the inner city, it's across the board," she said.
Ms. Anderson pointed to physical abuse as being highest on the list of reported cases to the CDA, with neglect by parents and guardians running a close second.
In May 2004, when the Senate passed the multipronged CCPA bill, it was drafted to ensure the state's protection of children.
