Newsletter by "Hear the Children Cry"

1. NATIONAL
48 Constant Spring Road, Kingston 10 YOUTH
876-929-0431, 822-0483, fax 923-6102
e-mail: hearchildrencry@yahoo.com www.hearthechildrencry.com January 2010 Volume 2 No. 1
Remembering More than DOUBLE ’08 total of 960:
JHANEEL 1,859 Children went
GOULBOURNE
And Other Precious
Lives lost - Page 5
missing during 2009
12 died; 720 still missing
We are deeply saddened to report that a
total of 1,859 Jamaican children were
reported missing during 2009. This is MORE
THAN DOUBLE the 2008 total of 960 children
reported missing! Since our first issue of The
Children’s Voice last month, 2009 figures from
the National Intelligence Bureau show that 154
children disappeared in November, and 167
in December.
These 1,858 boys and girls (0-18 years old)
INSIDE represent 76% of all 2,448 persons reported CHILD SAFETY
Child Welfare a Nat’l Priority 2
Positive Response to call for 2
missing last year. Although 1,127 or over 60%
of these missing children are reported to have OUTREACH
Police Missing Children’s Units returned home, 720 of them are still missing, Youngsters at Calvary Prep (above)
HAVE YOU SEEN THESE CHILDREN? 3 and 12 hove been confirmed to have died. and Rollington Town Primary Schools
The Missing: A Graphic Picture 4-5
Parents will be concerned to learn that the show their enthusiasm for their safety
Don’t Blame the Victim! 5
statistic reveal disappearances start increasing tips. They received the tips at a
Child Safety Tips & Features 6-7 at ages 8 -11, rising rapidly from age12 and Safety Session when Hear the
Missing over 2 years? Call us 6 peaking at 16 -17. Disappearances peak in Children’s Cry visited their schools
Safety Tips in the Yellow Pages 7 the summer and the end of the year. during the 2009 Christmas term. This
Spreading Hope & Happiness 8
was part of Hear the Children’s Cry’s
We Need Your Support 8 Earlier figures (Jan - July 2009) show St. ongoing Islandwide Outreach to
Catherine reporting most missing children (254) schools and communities, to promote
followed by Kingston & St. Andrew (241. child safety and positive parenting.
Portland families reported fewest missing
children (16). See charts on Pages 4 & 5, for a
graphic picture of this very sad news.
FOR IMPORTANT ADVICE
on keeping children safe, see
interview with DSP Paulette
Sponsor of the Green and tips from the CCN
Missing Children’s
Support Programme on page 7.
The Children’s Voice, January 2010 Page 1

2. CHILD WELFARE MUST BE A NATIONAL PRIORITY
Hear the Children’s Cry Committee has for increased resources for all child care
started 2010 with a call for a serious national services and programmes, but even more
commitment to protecting Jamaica’s important, we are calling for a serious
children. national consensus on child welfare as a
top priority. There will always be the
We refuse to move into a new year with the need for more resources; however, if we
‘same old same old’ problems affecting can get consensus on how we value our
children. Jamaica cannot keep on with the children, I believe we can achieve the
same laissez faire attitudes towards children necessary change in attitudes and
as before. In fact, we feel a growing sense of mind-sets.
outrage, and we intend to be a lot more
militant this year. We will resort to civil We have yet to hear a single official
disobedience activities if necessary, to ensure statement on the importance of protecting
that something is done at the governmental Betty Ann Blaine, Co-Founder children coming from the political
level to protect the children. and Executive Director, Hear
the Children’s Cry leadership of the country - despite all that
has been happening to Jamaican children.
We encourage parents to take responsibility and to be Hear the Children’s Cry would like to hear our leaders,
more vigilant in protecting their children. Also, we including our Parliamentarians, declaring that Jamaica’s
intend to hold the Government accountable for its children will be protected no matter what, and that they
responsibility for children – for example, through the will do everything in their power to see this happen.
enforcement of the laws and the judicial procedures that
will make it smoother and more effective for child During 2010 the Hear the Children’s Cry Committee
abusers to be brought to justice. We will be advocating will be lobbying for the following specific targets:
• The establishment of active, well
Positive initial response to call for staffed and well equipped Missing
Missing Children’s Police Units Children’s Units in every Police
Region islandwide.
Hear the Children’s Cry is happy to communication technology, with a • The establishment of islandwide
report a positive initial response on team capable of taking immediate Children’s Patrols by the Police:
the part of the Government, to our and effective action to recover and vehicles painted a recognizable
call for the establishment of active protect missing children. colour, marked “Children’s Patrol”.
Missing Children’s Units in every Within 24 hours, a reply came from • An effective and safe School Bus
Police Region Islandwide. the Minister of National Security, system, operational in every parish.
The appeal was originally made at who confirmed that he was • Slow speed zones for all schools, and
our November 2009 press scheduling a meeting on the matter the painting of pedestrian crossings,
conference, and followed up a with the Acting Police Commissioner, with proper monitoring and upkeep
letter to Prime Minister Bruce following which he would contact of these safety systems.
Golding, National Security Minister Hear the Children’s Cry. Minister • A tangible commitment to making
Senator Dwight Nelson and Acting Nelson expressed grave concern children the highest national
Police Commissioner Owen Ellington. with the issue of missing children, priority, through the production of a
In it, our Executive Director Betty and wrote that he found the figures simple but profound set of points to
Ann Blaine pressed for immediate alarming. Hear the Children’s Cry guide policies and decision making at
action in this huge national crisis. looks forward to priority action on every level of the society. This is to
be presented to the private sector
She stressed that the proposed what could be a major life saving
and major professional organizations,
Police Units need to be equipped strategy for vulnerable young
among others, for their active
with access to critical, high-end Jamaicas. endorsement and adoption.
The Children’s Voice, January 2010 Page 2

3. SEAN THOMPSON,
HAVE YOU
SEEN THESE
17, Missing from
Central Village,
St. Catherine since
October 28, ‘09
CHILDREN?
DANIESHA BURT, 16,
Spanish Town,
Missing Oct. 30, ‘09
If you
JODI JACKSON, 17, RENEE REID,16, SABRINA COLLINS, MONIQUE DUHANEY,
have
Missing from
Kingston since
Missing from Steer
Town, St. Ann, since
15, Missing from
Kingston since
November 9, ‘09
16, Missing from
Spanish Town since seen any
November 1, ‘09 November 2, ’09 November 10, ’09
of these
missing
children,
call 119
or
RUSHEL MCKENZIE,
contact
SASHANA SMITH,
16, Missing from
FELISHA WILLIAMS,
16, Missing from
15, Missing from
Kingston since
ORIN FRANCIS, 18,
Missing from
Spanish Town since
the
Portmore since
November 11, ’09
Portmore since
November 11, ‘09
November 15, ‘09 November 29, ‘09 nearest
police
station.
You
could be
saving a
VANESSA CARTY,
SASHANA MAXWELL,
CHANISE THOMAS, 16,
LAMIESHA THORPE,
young
13, Missing from Missing from Spring
Spanish Town since
December 6, ‘09
16, Missing from
Kingston since
Gardens, St. Thomas,
since December 11, ‘09
15, Missing from
Kingston since life!
December 6, ‘09 December 12, ‘09
The Children’s Voice, January 2010 Page 3

4. MISSING Missing Children (0-18 Years) Islandwide
January -- December 2009
CHILDREN: DECEASED
0.6%
RETURNED
a grahic picture OUTSTANDING
OUTSTANDING
DECEASED
38.7%
See Report on Page 1
RETURNED
60.6%
TOTAL MISSING PERSONS ISLANDWIDE
ALL AGES
JANUARY— DECEMBER 2009
REPORTED
1,859
0-18 YRS
19+YRS REPORTED
RETURNED 1,127
24%
30% 19+ YRS
OUTSTANDING 720
DECEASED 12
0-18 YRS
76%
MISSING CHILDREN JANUARY through DECEMBER 2009 - BY AGE
450
400
REPORTED MISSING ALL AGES 2,448
NUMBER MISSING
350
REPORTED MSSING 0-18 Yrs. 1,859 300
250
REPORTED 19+ Yrs. 589 200
150
100
50
MISSING CHILDREN
BY MONTH 0
JAN-DEC 2009 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
AGE
Jan 138
Feb 144
MISSING CHILDREN - ISLAND WIDE
Mar 108 JANUARY THROUGH DECEMBER - BY MONTH
Apr 153
240
NUMBER MISSING
May 146 220
200
June 206 180
July 219 160
140
Aug 126 120
100
Sept 112
ay
y
ch
ly
r
st
ril
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ne
r
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be
be
ar
Oct 186
Ju
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Ju
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em
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Au
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b
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O
pt
ov
ec
Nov 154
Se
N
D
MONTH
Dec 167
The Children’s Voice, January 2010 Page 4

5. Remembering Jhaneel and
Other Precious Lives Lost
Hear the Children’s Cry, the Missing Children’s Support Programme, our
sponsors the Jamaica Yellow Pages and our friends and associates, all send
love and sympathy to the families and loved ones of every Jamaican child
who has been lost to murder and other violent crimes.
This month we focus in particular on young Jhaneel Goulbourne, who was
only 14 when she was abducted in October 2008, never to be seen again
by her heart-broken family.
The Children’s Voice spoke with her sisters Colline and Lisa, who told us that
they and their mother are trying to cope with their grief. They find strength in
the Bible, in their prayers and at church. They keep busy. They comfort each
other. As Lisa says, “It will never leave the family. I pray a lot. He is my
refuge and my strength. I leave vengeance to Him. I have things to occupy
my mind. I have my children.” Jhaneel Goulbourne
Don’t blame the victim!
Jhaneel’s sister Lisa says that her says, but very puzzling. In fact, she “Many of us adults like to go on
family has been getting some voices the thoughts of many of us about ‘Dem school picky bad aye?’
negative reactions about their late when she asks, why have we taken to — We should remember that we
sister, who was violently abducted blaming the victims? were kids once, and every one of us
after she refused to be intimidated “We Jamaicans have moved from used to creep and do things we were
about giving evidence in a carnal one level to another,” Lisa reasons, “If not supposed to. But that gives
abuse case, and is now presumed a person does something to hurt nobody the authority to hurt a child!
murdered. Some people are suggest- another person, some of us want to And if I wear a short skirt and I feel
ing that Jhaneel might have caused know ‘What she or he did to deserve to walk on the street, that gives
her own demise by some wrong that?’ We Jamaicans have reached a nobody the right to touch me! We are
behaviour on her part, her sister stage where we are blaming the supposed to be able to be free!”
reports. This is not only hurtful, Lisa victims.
MISSING CHILDREN
BY PARISH 260 241
254
JANUARY - JULY 2009 235
Clarendon 67 210
NUMBER MISSING
Hanover 37 185
Manchester 60 160
135
Portland 16
110
Kgn/St. Andrew 241 75
85 67
St. Ann 36 60
60 37 44
36 30 29 28
St. Catherine 254 35 16
23
St. Elizabeth 30 10
St. James 75
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St. Mary 23
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St. Thomas 29
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Trelawny 28
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Westmoreland 44
The Children’s Voice, January 2010 Page 5

6. A Picture Can Save a Life!
Keeping up-to-date pictures of your children is an important safety
measure. It gives the police and others a clear description of who they
are looking for if your youngster goes missing.
Sadly, the hunt for many lost children is hampered by the lack of a
current photograph. At a recent visit to the National Intelligence
Bureau of the Ministry of National Security, our Research
Specialist Alice Watson saw that of over 100 missing children
reports to the police, less than a dozen had photos attached to help
find the child who had disappeared.
Parents and guardians need to remember to keep updating photos,
because children's looks change as they grow and develop.
… And Information Can Prevent
Tragedy— Know Your Children
Advice from DSP Paulette Green of the NIB
Has your child been Deputy Superintendent of Police Paulette Green is convinced
missing for over 2 that better parenting could prevent a lot of Jamaican children from
going missing. She urges parents to get to know their children and their
years? habits better, to keep in close touch with their children’s teachers or
guidance counsellors at school, and to build a strong, loving relationship
If your child has been missing for two years with their sons and daughters.
or more, please contact the Missing Chil-
dren’s Support Programme, operated by the She offers the following checklist for preventive child safety:
Hear the Children’s Cry Committee. Please If your child is having
• Work on having a better •
call 929-0431 or 822-0483, or e-mail problems, the teacher may pick
relationship with your child.
hearchildrencry@yahoo.com, or write or up on this before you do, and
come to the office at 48 Constant Spring • Try to understand your child, could alert you. Sometimes a
Road, Kingston 10. get to know his or her child may confide in the
personality. teacher about problems that
This information will greatly assist efforts • Get to know more about your could put him or her in danger.
to find those children who have not been youngster: their habits, who • This could also go for the
seen or heard from over a considerable their friends are, what they do guidance counsellor at school,
period of time. for fun. and sometimes even the
• Know where your child is at all principal.
times. • Keep your relationship with
• Know what routes your child your child positive. This is
takes, to get to school, sports, especially important as he or
friends’ homes, the mall, etc. she becomes a teenager.
Published by Hear The Children’s Cry.
• Take an active part in your Youngsters this age are easily
Executive Editor: Betty Ann Blaine child’s school life. Get to know persuaded by others. You want
Editor: Sandy McIntosh his or her teacher. Keep your child to feel he or she can
Research Specialist: Alice Watson informed on how he or she is come to you with problems,
doing with school work. questions, and feelings.
The Children’s Voice, January 2010 Page 6

7. TIPS FOR CHILD SAFETY
From the Police Constabulary Communication Network (CCN)
4.
If you get away from someone 7. NO ONE! should touch you on
Parents, tell your who you believe was trying to any part of the body that makes
child/children: harm you and you find a hiding you uncomfortable, if this should
place; be as still and quiet as happen, tell someone you trust.
possible until help comes or you
1. If someone tries to grab you,
are able to get away. 8. DO NOT! get into a vehicle and
raise an alarm by kicking and
go anywhere with anyone without
screaming with every effort to
5. If you are being taken away by permission from parent/guardian.
get away.
a stranger, try to be as calm as
you can and try to make a 9. Always take a friend with you
2. If someone holds on to you and
mental note of buildings, posts, when you go places.
is taking you away, if you unable
large trees or anything fixed that
to get lose; find a way to leave
cannot be easily removed. When 10. If stranger wants to take your
behind a personal item of yours.
you are rescued, the information photograph or videotape you,
e.g. a stuffed teddy, a watch, a
you give will assist the police in (DO NOT SMILE FOR THE
purse.
finding the suspect. CAMERA) tell them NO!
3. If you believe you are being REPORT A MISSING CHILD
6. If you are in a crowded public
followed by someone, run away
as fast as you can and don’t stop
place and get separated from IMMEDIATELY!
your parent, guardian or friends, The police no longer require
running until you are out of
find a uniformed officer and a 24 hour waiting period.
harm’s way and feeling safe.
speak to him/her. Call them AS SOON as you
yellow pages realize your child is missing!
Jamaica Yellow Pages
yellow pages reaches out for child safety
Jamaicans leafing through
the Yellow Pages of the
This is yet another
contribution from Jamaica
new Lime telephone Yellow Pages, which has
directory will come across been supporting the
a wealth of information Missing Children’s Support
about child safety. Programme since the
Programme’s inception in
Thanks to a host of April 2009.
attractively illustrated
display ads (including those In addition to sponsoring
in the collage at left) the activities of the
citizens are being Programme, Jamaica
reminded about who to Yellow Pages provides
call, at what numbers, if a office space for Hear the
child is in danger. Children’s Cry, which
operates the Missing
Parents, teachers and Children’s Support
community members are Programme. Jamaica
urged to protect all Yellow Pages also assists
children, and families are with practical support for
given valuable tips for traumatized families of
keeping their own missing children.
youngsters safe.
The Children’s Voice, January 2010 Page 7

8. PLEASE SEND DONATIONS TO:
Name of account: Hear the Children’s Cry
Account Number: 301-053-878
Name of Bank: National Commercial Bank
Bank Address: 94 Half Way Tree Road, Kingston 10
Tel. No. of Bank: (876) 926-3517 - (876) 920-3270
Bank or Routing: JNCBJMKX
C O N TAC T U S AT
H e a r t h e C h i l d r e n’s C r y
48 Constant Spring Road, Kingston 10
Tel: (876) 929-0431, 822-0483, Fax 923-6102 Hear the Children’s Cry and its Missing Children’s
Email: hearchildrencry@yahoo.com Support Programme are urgently in need of financial
assistance to help to help offset costs of our outreach
www.hearthechildrencry.com
programmes for traumatized families. These include
counseling, food
Spreading Hope and Happiness distribution and other
support.
Maxine Taylor Cooper, Senior Project Duff’s Business College, Mrs. Cooper went We also operate
Manager and Counselor with Hear the on to gain a Diploma in Human Resource critically important
Children’s Cry, is guided by two long-held Development from IMP in Kingston; a advocacy and public
ideals - a love for children, and a strong Certificate in Computer Studies from the information initiatives,
desire to help others over- UWI School of Continuing which include accessing
come challenges and achieve Studies, and has completed information on missing
positive changes in their several management children from the police
lives. related courses. and the government,
analyzing trends,
She tells us she is deeply Not surprisingly, counseling
keeping the public
committed to helping people, has played an important
acutely aware of the
especially children. With a part in her career, which has
major national crisis
natural ability to listen, and also included personnel
threatening Jamaica’s
an ever cheerful smile, she management, project
children, and pressing for
adds that she wants to help management, training and
immediate action to
“those who find it challeng- administration among other
protect children.
ing to cope with everyday duties, in areas such as child
life, especially if they have experienced care, tourism, restaurant management, Also vital is our vigorous
despair and frustration.” housing and local government. prevention programme,
educating young and old
A foundation staffer with both Hear the Mrs. Cooper is looking forward to
on child safety, positive
Children’s Cry and its Missing Children’s achieving her career dream as a fully
parenting and community
Support Programme, Mrs. Cooper is qualified counselor. Her goals include
responsibility. In addition
currently completing her B.A. in Guidance assisting emotionally distressed people,
to funds and in-kind gifts
and Counselling at the Jamaica Theological sharing and offering them alternative
we also need volunteer
Seminary, where she has been attending solutions. “I want to empower people,” she
mentors for missing
evening classes since 2005. She graduates says, “especially adolescents, and to help
children who have
this June. make the difference between a future of
returned home.
gloom and hopelessness for them, and one
In addition to her current responsibilities at filled with hope and happiness.”
Please contact us at the
the office, she is Project Coordinator for the
above addresses and/or
successful Prevent A Drop Out Programme Mrs. Cooper is a devoted wife and mother
send contributions to our
operated by Hear the Children’s Cry, at of three, and a member of the New Life
account listed above. We
the Swallowfield Primary and Junior High Assembly of God Church. Her interests
are deeply appreciative
School on Whitehall Avenue in Kingston. include dancing, music and community of your support and
development.
A graduate of Waterford High School and good wishes.
The Children’s Voice, January 2010 Page 6