Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn said that, without the passing of regulations, then Section 6of the Child Care and Protection Act has no teeth.

There can be no proper and viable prosecution of persons who contravene the section if the regulations have not been passed, Miss Llewellyn said.

Section 6 of the act states that any person who has information, which causes that person to suspect that a child has been or is likely to be abandoned, neglected or physically or sexually ill-treated, or is otherwise in need of care and protection to make a report to the Children's Registry.

Miss Llewellyn, who was addressing the Rotary Club of Spanish Town, at the Hilton Kingston hotel this month, said the regulations prescribing the procedure for the entry of information into the registry and the staff and location of the registration centres, have not yet been made and given legal effect. She queried why the regulations had not been passed despite the fact that the act came into effect on March 26, 2004.

"We are now in May 2007 at the beginning of Child Month," She said, stressing that the safety and well-being of children in Jamaica would demand that the authorities act with expedition to have the situation remedied.

Miss Llewellyn said that, perhaps with the fact that it was Child Month, it would be a fitting backdrop or context within which the authorities could pass the regulations.

She made a special appeal to members of the society not to have children if they are not able to see to all of their needs; that is to give them love, shelter, education and to see to their emotional and physical well-being.

Miss Llewellyn said all the agencies should work to complement each other to give effect to the prescribed laws, and cooperate with a responsible media to educate the public to promote and protect children.