…Children’s Advocate endorses Ministry of Education’s advice for children to walk in groups
The Office of The Children’s Advocate (OCA) is deeply saddened by the brutal killing of 14-year-old Shariefa Saddler, a student of the Haile Selassie High School in St. Andrew. Children’s Advocate, Diahann Gordon Harrison, noted that the killing of the teen is another clear indication of the cruelty some persons in society continue to mete out to our children.
“It is extremely heart rending when the Office has to issue statements of this kind, as one would think that as adults we ought to know that it is our obligation at all times to ensure the safety and well being of children. We use this medium to offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to Shariefa’s family. We call on persons who have information that may assist with the identification of the perpetrators to make a report to the police to help them with their investigations so that those responsible will be brought to book. The act of the killing was bad enough but the additionally indignity and disregard that was shown by the manner in which her body was discarded is beyond comprehension.”
“I also use this opportunity to express condemnation for the murder of four (4) year old Rushane Beckford who was shot in the head early this morning in a yard in Central Kingston. These acts of savagery against the nation’s children are appalling and unacceptable and they illustrate a pervasive callousness in the hearts of those who continue to inflict this sort of pain on the Jamaican society,” the Children’s Advocate added.
Mrs. Gordon Harrison also noted that the OCA fully endorses the Ministry of Education’s appeal to parents to ensure that their children walk in groups as a safety procedure. Additionally, the OCA recommends that where at all possible, parents accompany children to bus stops or to their school in a bid to try to ensure that they remain safe.
“For our part, we at the OCA have been actively conducting public education sessions in schools, and one of the precautionary measures we stress to children is for them to always be cognizant of their surroundings and be mindful of all persons with whom they come in contact. We have to be realistic that we will not at all times have our children in our presence, and so we constantly impart tips which we hope can be of use to them.”
The OCA implores all well-thinking Jamaicans to join us in the task of protecting our children collectively. Under the Child Care and Protection Act (CCPA), all adults are duty bound to ensure that the right and best interests of all children are preserved at all times. If you have information, please contact the police.
