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Project for the Advancement of Childhood Education PACE (Canada) has expressed great concern for the well-being of children who were caught up in the violence associated with west Kingston.

According to a release the organisation sent, its president, Mary Anne Chambers, was calling on the Government and the Opposition, as well as security forces, to provide protection for the young.

"Children need our support and protection at all times and even more so during times like these. Media coverage has focused on the participation of women in the protests that are taking place. The media have also focused on the violent activities of gangs. We are not seeing reports of concern for children or of action being taken to protect the most vulnerable, young children," she said.

PACE (Canada) provides financial support to approximately 235 basic schools in Jamaica, including 50 in the parishes of Kingston and St Andrew. The 10,000 children in the schools that PACE (Canada) sponsors are between three and five years of age, with a large number being from the inner cities.

Chambers further said: "The children are the real victims of all of this. They are at the most impressionable age and are no doubt traumatised by these incidents. We cannot have them thinking that what is happening is acceptable or the norm. There has never been a more important time to invest in these children. They represent Jamaica's future and the island's hope."