Published: Wednesday | December 30, 2009
Three months after the closure of the commission of enquiry into the deadly fire that killed seven girls at the Armadale Juvenile Correctional Centre, the report on the issue is yet to be presented to the public, a delay human rights lobby group Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) has labelled "disturbing".
"We urge the commissioner to present it (findings) with alacrity because children are at risk," declared Dr Carolyn Gomes, executive director of JFJ. She told The Gleaner she was not prejudging the report, but that it has to be presented to the public and, based on the testimony that was given, she expects recommen-dations to be made. She added that the public needs to be aware of what is happening and action should be taken from there.
Commenting further on the issue, Gomes said steps recommended in 2006 have still not been taken, but added that such reports make a difference in people's understanding of what is happening.
"Whether or not that commission of enquiry was a complete waste of time, and is judged by history to be so, will depend on the strengths of the report and the recommendations that come out of it and the Government's willingness to implement those recommendations," she added.
Several recommendations made
Children's Advocate Mary Clarke, however, said a report was not what is needed to address the existing problems.
Clarke told The Gleaner that several recommendations have been made in previous years and questioned the calls for the release of the report.
"Is a report going to make resources available?" she asked.
Clarke lamented the atrocities that Jamaican children have to encounter as some are in lock-ups and more keep getting into problems with the law.
"We don't need a report to address these problems," declared Clarke, noting that they should be dealt with now.
The children's advocate revealed that at least one mother has begged her to take back a former ward of the State who was released, as it was difficult to deal with the uncontrollable child. She said, however, that her office has held meetings with parents of the former Armadale wards.
"It will not end and cannot end with the enquiry. We cannot sit with bated breath waiting for the report while there are things that need to be done," said Clarke.
Meanwhile, a representative from the Ministry of National Security said the secretary for the commission of enquiry was on leave and could not answer questions regarding the report. However, The Gleaner was informed that it should be ready by early January.