News Releases
Ananda Alert Making StridesAugust 4, 2009
The Ananda Alert programme is making strides in reuniting missing children with their families.
Of the 82 children, who were reported missing from their homes since the programme's launch in May, 44 have been successfully reunited with their families. The number includes 14 teenagers, who had gone missing during the months of February, April and July 2009.
Alert System for Missing Children LaunchedMay 20, 2009
The Ananda Alert System, Jamaica's response to reports of missing children, was officially launched today (May 19), at a ceremony held at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston.
Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, with responsibility for Local Government Hon. Robert Montague, explained that the Ananda Alert System is triggered when a child goes missing and a call is made to the police.
Government to Get Assistance from Microsoft Corporation for Ananda Alert ProjectMay 19, 2009
Microsoft Corporation will be providing Jamaica with the software called the Child Abducting Tracking System - CATS, which is used by major police forces worldwide to help track missing children. This was disclosed by Minister of State who has responsibility for the Department of Local Government in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Bobby Montague.
The software valued at an estimated J$18-million (US$200,000) provides data that links all police forces throughout the world and will allow Jamaica to tap into that source to access information that will assist in the search when a child goes missing. Microsoft will also provide training for members of the Jamaica police force and will be responsible for upgrading the equipment.
Curfew for School Children in Uniform Proposed Under Ananda Alert SystemFebruary 25, 2009
A draft document on a curfew for school children in uniform, under the Ananda Alert System, has been developed by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).
The proposals were introduced at a meeting on Ananda Alert, at the office of the Department of Local Government, Hagley Park Road, Kingston, yesterday (Feb 23) by Civil Military Cooperation Officer at the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Major Charlene Steer, who chaired the sub-committee on the curfew proposals.
No Evidence of Ring Committing Rapes and Abductions - LewinNovember 11, 2008
Commissioner of Police, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, has said that there is no evidence to suggest that there is an organised ring committing rapes and abductions.
The Commissioner, who was addressing the 21st annual conference of the Neighbourhood Watch Council held on (Nov. 8), at Kendal Camp and Conference Centre in Manchester, said that persons should be careful how they pass on information regarding recent incidents. He warned that irresponsible persons can cause serious harm if they create hysteria.
PM Golding Appeals for Calm and Announces Action Plan to Deal With Reports of AbductionNovember 10, 2008
Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, is reassuring the country that the security forces have stepped up their vigilance and investigations into reports of abduction of children from a number of schools around the island.
He is calling on citizens to remain calm.
JIS Community Meetings Addressing Child Safety and SecurityNovember 10, 2008
The Jamaica Information Service (JIS) has embarked on a month-long series of community meetings aimed at heightening awareness of child safety and security, particularly in rural areas.
The first meeting took place at the Miracle Ministry Full Gospel Mission Church in Nutts River rural St.Thomas on Thursday, November 6 and was done in collaboration with the Social Development Commission.
PBCJ to Start Five-Minute Programme on Missing PersonsNovember 10, 2008
The Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ) will shortly develop a five- minute programme on missing persons in Jamaica as a means of educating the public about abductions.
"On the PBCJ we currently have a show on missing persons called 'Missing' which is approximately 15 to 20 minutes long. What we plan to do is cut it down to about five minutes so that this way we can get a little more exposure from it. We will of course be distributing this to all the other TV stations, print media and whoever else that would have the opportunity to use it. Once we get the programme out there people will put faces to the names," Chief Executive Officer of the PBCJ, Leighton Thomas, informed JIS News.
Govt. to Double Efforts to Deal with Abductions - Senator NewbyNovember 05, 2008
Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Senator Warren Newby, is assuring Jamaicans that the Government would be doubling its efforts, to address the spate of abductions and attacks on the nation's women and children.
"We are committed to carrying out a multifaceted approach that will bring about a solution. The Prime Minister has put together a Task Force to look at different aspects of child safety and the recommendations that have come forward from them. Our own Ministry has been given a number of initiatives that we should undertake and among them is sensitisation, not only of communities, but of our youth," he informed.
Abduction Alert System to be Launched in NovemberOctober 25, 2008
Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government Reform in the Office of the Prime Minister, Robert Montague, has informed that he would be working with various stakeholders to establish an islandwide child-abduction alert system.
The system, which is to be launched during Local Government Month (November), will be spearheaded by the Department of Local Government in the Office of the Prime Minister, in conjunction with the Association of Local Government Authorities (ALGA), which is the representative body for the island's 14 Local Government Authorities, and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).
Minister Grange Makes Renewed Plea to Nation to Protect the ChildrenOctober 23, 2008
The Honourable Olivia "Babsy" Grange, Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, is appealing to members of the society to get involved and become proactive in the fight to protect the children.
Addressing the Caribbean Child Research Conference at the Jamaica Pegasus yesterday (October 21) Minister Grange said that "no matter what we do as Government, and at conferences such as these, the society itself has to play the larger role."