Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Linval Bailey (left) smiles as STAR Editor Claire Clarke (third right) explains the contents of a copy of THE STAR to DCP Mark Shields (second right) and Prudence Gentles (right), coordinator for Crime Stop. Looking on are Karin Cooper (second left), corporate affairs and marketing manager, and Collin Bourne, administration manager/company secretary at The Gleaner Company Ltd. The event was yesterday's launch of 'Hunt for Child Killers', a STAR save-the-children campaign, at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
JAMAICANS WERE yesterday encouraged to come forward and give information to the police to help them catch child killers.
The encouragement came from a variety of speakers who addressed the launch of the 'Hunt for Child Killers' - THE STAR save-the-children campaign which is a partnership with Crime Stop.
"The police have been selfless in doing their job. The only thing stopping them is your support. But, the tradition that giving information is a bad thing is a deadly hindrance to the advancement of justice. Only through the sharing of information can a civilised society police itself," said Claire Clarke, THE STAR editor.
During the campaign, THE STAR will be offering a reward totalling $100,000 leading to the arrest and charge of each person/persons responsible for the murder of our children. The campaign will see THE STAR putting up a total of $1 million over the next six months to catch Jamaica's child killers. To date, nine of the murders of children between two and 13 years, remain unsolved.
Clarke noted that six-year-olds were curious and friendly. Shanika Anderson, whose murder remains unsolved, was six years old at the time of her death. Shanika was lured away from the Coronation Market, downtown Kingston, raped and killed.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mark Shields also urged the public to support the campaign. He said 87 children were killed last year. He said there was a culture where being an informer was seen as a dirty word. He added, however, that the public needed to help the police catch the child killers.
"Crime Stop's integrity is firmly intact. All information will be kept in strictest confidence. Do the right thing and help us catch the child killers," DCP Shields said.
The launch also had contributions from one parent. Kemmar Brown said it was difficult to lose her daughter.
"Oksana was only seven years old when she went to a party where they had a drive-by shooting. It's very hard for me to be standing here and talking like this," she said as she fought back the tears.
