Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

Therapeutic interventions began on Friday for children who have been victims of trauma and crime.

Spanish Town, St. Catherine

The Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with the Northern Caribbean University, the Victims Support and the Dispute Resolution Foundation, on Friday held the first in a series of therapeutic interventions for several children who have become victims of trauma and crime.

The Gleaner visited the Serenity Park in St. Catherine to find several persons from the collaborative group lecturing, mentoring and interacting with 30 youths who have been victims of trauma.

The 25 girls and five boys were given inspirational speeches and reinforcement of their self belief by members of the collaborative group who took time out to lecture them.

According to Nigel Parkes, who is the legal officer for the Ministry of Justice, the aim of the exercise was to sensitise the public that, instead of the 'retributive' justice system, the restorative justice system could be used as an effective alternative to give both the victim and the perpetrator a chance to sort out issues that might otherwise be resolved in bloodshed.

He said that, as a result, these youths who are troubled by bitterness, resentment and low self-esteem will be the ones taking the message back to the community to give hope to others who have suffered similar fate. He added that, while it will not be a one-off situation, the continued effort of all concerned will make Jamaica a better place in the next ten years.

WITNESSED HEINOUS CRIMES

It was noted that most of the children and young adults who came were persons who were secondary victims, such as those who have witnessed heinous crimes like murder, shooting, rape and that they were taken from all over Jamaica.

It was also the view of several of the participants that Serenity Park was the ideal location for such an exercise. In putting the past behind them, they wrote their problems on several balloons which were set off to put a closure to the days' activity. The group promised to continue the efforts come February 4 when several others, along with their parents, will be attending a similar intervention at the Serenity Park.