DPP appeals for more ‘informers’

Paula Llewellyn, Jamaica's director of public prosecutions, is urging persons to 'be an informer' once a case of child abuse is suspected.

Llewellyn, who was the guest speaker at a Rotary Club of Downtown Kingston meeting yesterday, said she is quite alarmed by the number of cases of child abuse, and implores persons to stand up and take a stand against the horrifying trend. She noted a case in which a young woman was infected with HIV by a man who believed that having sex with a virgin would cure him.

"We are in a time when you have the 'informa fi dead' mentality and the time where no one wants to be an informer. But as a community, everyone has a duty to report to the police any situation where a child is obviously in need of care and protection. People will look the other way because they don't want to be an informer. Well, I challenge you all to be that facilitator of being an informer. Encourage members of your family, church and club to be an informer," she said.

In addition to sexual abuse, Llewellyn also decried instances of cruelty to children. She said after analysing some of the cases, factors like the lack of supervision and proper parenting, as well as ignorance, are usually evident.

"In the 21st century, we are in a time where violence is celebrated in part of the popular culture in song. We are in a time when the village is now allowing child abuse in plain sight because when you drill down with the police, and talk to the relatives, or one or two of the witnesses, it is quite clear that child abuse is well known. But it has become comfortable to yield to wilful blindness to be allowing these abuses to be taking place in plain sight," she said.

Llewellyn said that while a number of cases involving families from low socio-economic background come before the court, child abuse is prevalent in different levels of the society.

"I have seen doctors before the court who are charged for sexually assaulting a stepdaughter. I have spoken to mothers from upper St Andrew who have these issues to deal with. But what happens in upper St Andrew is that the child is sent or taken abroad to go to school and be in a totally different environment," she said.