Grange to address child killings in Parliament today

Minister in charge of Gender Affairs, Olivia Grange is to use her Sectoral contribution this afternoon to address the issue of crimes against Jamaica’s most vulnerable, following Sunday’s murder of a three year old girl.

Grange is expected to say how the Government plans to revive efforts to have stiffer penalties for the murder of pregnant women and children.

She is to update the nation on the delayed Joint Select Committee to recommend amendments to the Offences Against the Person Act, the Sexual Offences Act, the Domestic Violence Act and The Child Care and Protection Act.

In a statement yesterday, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the process was delayed and there has been no meeting since December 2014.

He says the Government plans to restart that process and finally get these reforms in place.

While in opposition, the Jamaica Labour Party, led by Holness, had proposed harsher penalties for the murder of pregnant women and other forms of violence against women and children.

Holness said the parliament must enhance penalties to act as deterrents or as appropriate punishment for crimes committed against the most vulnerable.