Posted on by George Bowes
South East Region Children’s Officer, Remona DaCosta (right) talks with a young man in the Bamboo River community of St. Thomas during a child sensitisation walk recently.
South East Region Children’s Officer, Remona DaCosta (right) talks with a young man in the Bamboo River community of St. Thomas during a child sensitisation walk recently.

As part of its ongoing drive to prevent abuse and promote child protection, a team from the Child Development Agency (CDA) conducted a sensitisation walkthrough in two more St. Thomas communities.  After walking through Yallahs two weeks ago, this time the CDA team went to Bamboo River and Church Corner in Morant Bay, St. Thomas, on Friday (April 17).

CDA Officers were joined on the walk by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

CDA’s Regional Director for South East, Robert Williams explained that the Agency targeted those communities, specifically because they were considered hot spots for issues affecting children.

CDA’s Regional Director for South East, Robert Williams (right) is supported by his team while making a presentation to students at the Morant Bay Primary recently. The initiative is part of an ongoing drive by the Agency to educate children about child abuse, their rights and participation, as well as school safety.
CDA’s Regional Director for South East, Robert Williams (right) is supported by his team while making a presentation to students at the Morant Bay Primary recently. The initiative is part of an ongoing drive by the Agency to educate children about child abuse, their rights and participation, as well as school safety.

“We are extremely grateful for the support from the team of police officers, which allowed us to function more effectively. I am also very pleased with the effort of the CDA officers who were on the ground carrying out their duties.

In the communities,  CDA officers collected information regarding various cases for further investigation.  The officers also visited a number of schools in the vicinity, such as the Bamboo River Basic and Morant Bay Primary Schools, and made presentations to students about child abuse and school safety.

Child Development Agency Children’s Officer, Julian Taylor (right) gives a St. Thomas resident information during a recent child sensitisation walk in Morant Bay and Bamboo River.
Child Development Agency Children’s Officer, Julian Taylor (right) gives a St. Thomas resident information during a recent child sensitisation walk in Morant Bay and Bamboo River.

“From the interventions, we are well aware that the team has a lot more work to do in those and other areas in the parish, and as such, we will continue our prevention measures, and investigations, treating each case accordingly,” Mr. Williams said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Beresford Williams joining the team of Child Development Agency’s (CDA) officers during a child protection sensitisation walk, staged recently in Morant Bay, St. Thomas. The walkthrough is one of several being undertaken, geared at educating persons about child abuse prevention and the need to protect the nation’s children.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Beresford Williams joining the team of Child Development Agency’s (CDA) officers during a child protection sensitisation walk, staged recently in Morant Bay, St. Thomas. The walkthrough is one of several being undertaken, geared at educating persons about child abuse prevention and the need to protect the nation’s children.

Deputy Superintendent of Police for the Yallahs Division in St. Thomas, Beresford Williams who supported the team, said that the JCF will continue to partner with the CDA on this and other initiatives to assist in creating safer communities in the parish.

“This is indeed a good move embarked on by the CDA, because the communities of St. Thomas need this kind of intervention; so we hope that this will be ongoing.

Others walks are scheduled to be held across the island during Child Month.

Contact:    CDA PR Unit
Tel:           967-1614
Email:       gordonj@cda.gov.jm; barnesp@cda.gov.jm
Twitter:      @cda.jm
Facebook: www.facebook.com/child-development-Agency
Website:   www.cda.gov.jm