I would like to commend the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) of the Jamaican Government – yes, the name is a bit of a mouthful – on what I see as the expanded efforts it has been making recently to protect our children.
Inevitably, the kind of work the agency does may be reactive rather than proactive. It is also obviously sensitive, with all the complexities of Jamaican family life and society involved. Last year the CPFSA received thousands of reports of child abuse. In the past few months, the CPFSA has been busy investigating several “viral videos” of parents beating their children, and one of a teenage girl being attacked by a group of adults and children on the street; a security guard who is accused of beating a student at a bus stop; reports of a teenage girl abducted and raped by a young man she knew; an abandoned newborn baby; and the alleged rape of a seven-year-old child by her adult cousin, who has since been arrested and charged. These are just a few recent examples, and they seem to go on and on, sadly.
Moreover, out of just over one thousand, 151 children who went missing in 2023 have still not been found; this number includes 133 girls. Where have they gone? Did they run away, or were they kidnapped by a parent or another adult? And would some of them be dead?
Yesterday (February 8) the CPFSA held a forum in western Jamaica to try to find solutions to this particular issue; the participating audience consisted of young people in the region. I like the idea of the youth being part of the solution, and not just “the problem.” The forum was related to the Ananda Alert system, a system of reporting missing children which came into effect in 2009. It is named after Ananda Dean, who was abducted and murdered in 2008. High school students put forward a series of recommendations, including in-person workshops but also greater use of digital platforms, WhatsApp and more, to get the word out. Targeted ads produced by children were also suggested.
By the way, it is important to note that one does not have to wait for 24 hours before reporting a missing child to the police.
At the same session in Montego Bay, the agency awarded 63 academically outstanding children in state care on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at its 12th Annual Educational Achievement Awards Ceremony, which recognises wards of the State for their exceptional academic performance in the last set of examinations (CSEC and CXC). These students achieved passes in four or more passes. Special prizes were presented to regional CSEC awardees who received the highest subject passes. The all-Island winners will receive the Ministry of Education and Youth’s Top Boy and Girl Award. The CPFSA notes that it spends over J$40 million in supporting the education of children in State care enrolled at all levels.
I am not sure if this is the first time, but I like this initiative, too. Keep up the good work,
Jamaicans are encouraged to report any and all forms of child abuse using the 24 hour child abuse reporting hotline 211. Child abuse reports may also be made through WhatsApp/text at
(876) 878-2882, e-mail report@childprotection.gov.jm or by visiting any CPFSA parish office, or through the social media pages (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) @cpfsajm.
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