Hear The Children's Cry calls for $1 million bounty on child killers

 

 

Child advocacy group, Hear The Children's Cry is renewing its call for the strengthening of child protection measures in light of the recent killing of two young children.

 

Among the measures are the implementation of a $1 million bounty for information leading to the arrest of child killers and harsher penalties for perpetrators who are convicted.

 

The group says a government funded, high profile Bounty on Child Killers would not only discourage criminals, it would also help to encourage community support for police investigations.

 

Priscilla Duhaney, Spokesperson for Hear The Children's Cry, said two government ministries should take the lead in implementing this particular recommendation. 

 

"We don't expect that this is just for us to speak about it and put it out in the public, but there needs to be some engagement for discussion. As usual, we would love for the ministries, particularly the Ministry of Finance and of course the Ministry of National Security to come together, engage relevant stakeholders and to organise its application or implementation. But primarily, of course, it is really where there must be some form of budget prepared and established to take into account the reward strategies for individuals who will provide relevant information for perpetrators or killers, especially child killers," she proposed. 

 

Hear The Children's Cry says there is also the need to improve both parenting and schooling in Jamaica, a challenge that requires serious funding and long term planning and execution.