A man looks over the precipice in Belvedere, St Andrew, where a body, suspected to be that of Ananda Dean, was found Sunday. - Norman Grindley/Acting Photo Editor

The Cabinet and Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller have expressed outrage at the wave of child murders sweeping Jamaica.

Government's executive arm said measures to address the recent acts of violence against the nation's children must be strengthened immediately, a release issued Monday night read.

Cabinet underscored the importance of passing the anti-crime legislation currently before Parliament "in order to enable the security forces to deal decisively with the criminals within our midst," the release stated.

Simpson Miller struck an equally poignant chord, calling for a cooperative movement to stem the tide of crime against the most vulnerable.

Concerted effort needed

"The Government alone will not be able to do it; Opposition alone will not be able to do it. We need the concerted effort of every single Jamaican to join this battle to tame the dragon, to destroy the cancer cells forever, so that we can provide security and safety for our people," Simpson Miller said Monday.

More than 50 children have been murdered since the start of the year. Among them are Ananda Dean and Aakim Scott.

The decomposing body of a girl believed to be Dean, an 11-year-old who was abducted, was found on Sunday.

Scott, also 11, of St Mary, was murdered and his body cut into seven pieces. Simpson Miller attended his funeral on Sunday.

Moved by the attacks on the nation's children, Simpson Miller urged a collective effort to protect the vulnerable.

"It is time for us to say enough is enough," she said.

Minister of Youth Olivia Grange said she was "appalled" at the incidence of crimes against women and children, and charged the nation to reclaim the nation from murders and sexual predators.

"The abuses that are taking place in the country - incest, carnal abuse, spousal abuse, rape, abduction and killing - are becoming all too familiar," a release issued Monday night stated.

"As a nation we cannot allow this to continue. We cannot be passive or powerless; we must all join in the fight to eliminate this scourge," Grange was quoted as saying.