The Parliamentary Opposition and civil society stakeholders are among several organisations and persons who have been invited by Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna to serve on a Children Support Taskforce of volunteers.

Opposition Leader Andrew Holness has been invited to name a representative.

Representatives have also been invited to the taskforce from, among other groups, Children First, Jamaicans for Justice, the Children Advisory Panel and the National Secondary Students Council.

Among its mandates, the Children Support Taskforce is expected to assist in building public awareness, knowledge and positive intent pertaining to the care, protection and development of children in Jamaica.

In a release yesterday, the ministry said Reverend Dr Marjorie Lewis, president of the United Theological College of the West Indies, would serve as chairman of the taskforce.