Anderson

Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Three years after the Child Care and ProtectionAct (CCPA) was passed in Parliament, aspects of it remain toothless as mechanisms are still not in place to prosecute persons who fail to report abuses against children.

Mandated by the CCPA, the role of the Children's Registry is to receive information supplied by persons who suspect that a child has been, or is in danger of being abandoned, neglected, physically or sexually ill-treated, or is in need of care and protection.

The penalty for not making a report is a maximum fine of $500,000 or six months in prison, or both.

But while the Children's Registry, which was established in January has, up to Tuesday, received 93 reports of physical and sexual abuses, parental neglect, among other things, persons who fail to report these incidents have not been prosecuted because the CCPA (Children's Registry) regulations have not been approved.

Urged to report

However, just this week, Alison Anderson, chief executive officer of the Child Development Agency, continued to urge parents during a Lions Club of Kingston meeting to report abuses against children because they could be charged under the law.

When contacted, Grace-Ann McFarlane, acting head of the Children's Registry, said her office conducted the first revision of the regulations, which was sent to the legal officer in the Ministry of Health.

"I am hoping that it will be passed very soon," she told The Gleaner.

Meanwhile, Mrs. McFarlane has urged persons who are aware of abuses against children to call 1888-PROTECT, adding that her office continues to keep the names of persons who report incidents confidential but refers the cases to the relevant authorities.

The Children's Registry operates out of a temporary office in Manchester, while a permanent location is still being sought.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com