MP pledges to lobby for greater access to Sex Offender Registry

 

Member of Parliament for St. Catherine North Western, Damion Crawford, has said he will be pressing for the release of the Sex Offender Registry following last week's rape of a seven-year-old girl in Treadways, Linstead.

 

Mr. Crawford argued that the assault, especially on a child, shows the urgent need for stronger protections. 

 

"So that it is known to the communities when they are hiring individuals, when they are inviting individuals, and sometimes even when they are facilitating strangers in the area, let it not be forgotten that this person was not from us, was not living among us, and by extension we need a strategy to prevent those persons to come into our space. So as the Member of Parliament, I will be pushing for the Sexual Offenders Registry to be made public for us to execute our own protection," she told residents. 

 

The MP, who was addressing the Treadways community on Monday, also pledged to introduce a system to ensure students are safely accompanied home. 

 

"I have also written a letter to the Ministry of Education to ask for consideration in the same way that we have crossing guards, to have a walking accomplice, to do the first three months until you feel safe and secure again, and to be extended if necessary. So someone from the community will be hired to walk to the different directions. We're hoping for two persons hired to walk with you so you can feel safe with people that you are aware of and that you know," he announced. 

 

The suspect in the rape of the child, who was held shortly after the incident on Thursday, has also been charged with forcible abduction and sexual touching. 

 

The child was attacked while on her way home from school. 

 

Meanwhile, Mr. Crawford said he will additionally be lobbying for a school road programme, where roadways leading to schools are rehabilitated to ensure ease of access for motor vehicles. 

 

The residents have welcomed the suggestions. 

 

They have since undertaken a major debushing exercise to provide better visibility for those traversing the area.

 

"We are trying to bush away the bushes that there will be no bush that any culprit see anybody else to go inside," said one woman who spoke with Radio Jamaica News. She said the aim is to ensure community members, including children, feel as safe as possible.