PNP, CPFSA, Hear the Children Cry lobby condemn murder of Spanish Town schoolgirl

The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has joined the national outcry over Friday's brutal killing of a nine-year-old St Catherine schoolgirl, describing the act as “an affront to our collective humanity”.

Lobby group Hear the Children's Cry and the Child Protection and Family Services Agency are among the latest voices condemning the crime.

In a statement Saturday, Opposition Spokesperson on Gender, Disabilities and Inclusion Denise Daley expressed deep sorrow and outrage, urging Jamaicans to move beyond grief into action as the country marks Child Month.

“This is a devastating and deeply disturbing incident that has shaken our nation to its core,” said Daley. “The brutal murder of an innocent child is an affront to our collective humanity and underscores the urgent need for us, as individuals, families, communities, and a nation, to take the safety of our children seriously," said Daley, who is also the Member of Parliament for St Catherine Eastern.

Kelsey’s brother found her body stuffed in a barrel at her Job Lane home in Spanish Town around 8 p.m. on Friday. Investigators believe she was sexually assaulted and beaten before being killed.

The police have named Giovanni Ellis, otherwise called ‘Coolie Man’, as a person of interest in the case. A $2 million reward has been offered by the Ministry of National Security for information leading to his capture.

Daley said the tragedy demands an examination of Jamaica’s failing social systems.

“We have to reemphasise the village raising the child,” she said. “Every adult has a role to play… from the neighbour who checks in, to the teacher who listens, to the stranger who speaks up when something feels wrong. Too many of our children are hurting in silence.”

She urged Jamaicans to speak out against abuse and end the culture of silence that allows harm to flourish. “We can’t afford to wait until another child’s life is cut short to act,” Daley added.

Daley offered condolences to Kelsey’s family and called on Jamaicans to “honour her life by making sure no other child has to die like this.” “This cannot be business as usual,” she said. “Let this be the moment we say: never again," she said.

National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang has labelled the killing an “unspeakable” act of evil and has directed Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake to deploy every available resource in the search for the suspect.

“The life of an innocent child full of promise and potential has been cruelly extinguished,” Chang said, warning that the police would leave “no stone unturned” to find those responsible.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Wayne Josephs, head of the Criminal Investigations Branch, said law enforcement is “fully mobilised” to capture Ellis

Other Reactions

Hear the Children’s Cry:

“These atrocities have taken on unimaginable decadence. Unless effective action is taken by the relevant authorities, this could continue to be a serious attack on Jamaica’s children," said Nigel Cooper, the group's director.

“While it is good that the Minister of National Security is offering a sizeable reward to help capture the murderer, we need well-designed programmes and projects, as well as better laws so that the potential criminal would not think of committing such crimes.”

Attorney Priscilla Duhaney, a spokesperson for the group, said she is deeply disturbed by what she describes as "our society’s desensitization to violence against children".

“We need a shift in our culture, mindset, and behaviour. We must demonstrate compassion and take action to safeguard our children's innocence and well-being. The government and stakeholders must prioritize children's welfare and allocate resources effectively. We cannot only empathize from a distance, but we need to draw near with action with an undeniable presence," she said.

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