CHILD DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CDA) SAYS DETAINED BOYS REINTEGRATED INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES

Bulletin 33

Kingston (JIS), May 28, 2010

CDA SAYS DETAINED BOYS REINTEGRATED INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES

 Director of Policy, Planning and
Evaluation at the Child Development Agency (CDA), Audrey Budhi, has said
that all boys detained during the Joint Police/Military Operation in
Western Kingston have been reintegrated into their communities.

According to Ms. Budhi, after the
minors were debriefed and counselled by CDA officers, they were reunited
with family members. In some cases they were taken directly from the
detention centres by the police to their respective communities.

She told JIS News that the CDA will
be making contact with the children who were affected by the operation,
especially those sitting exams, to provide them with psycho social
support. She also revealed that the CDA will be working with the
Guidance and Counselling Unit of the Ministry of Education to discuss
crisis intervention strategies.

A multi-sectoral meeting involving
the CDA, Victim Support Unit, Children's Registry and the Office of
Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), among others, is
planned for Monday May 31. The entities will utilise the meeting to
develop a comprehensive programme to respond to the needs of the
children affected by the operation.