SENATE President Floyd Morris says that the Senate stands ready to pass amendments to legislation that would result in harsher penalties for people who commit crimes against children.

“It’s not a healthy sign when you see children being abused in the way we have seen,” said Morris, who was addressing People’s National Party (PNP) supporters at the party’s annual divisional conference at Mona High School in Eastern St Andrew Sunday.

“Take unnu eyes off the pickney dem,” Morris warned child predators in declaring the Senate’s readiness to put stiffer penalties on the books.

During a Jamaica House press briefing on May 13, it was announced that Cabinet had issued drafting instructions for changes to be made to the Child Care and Protection Act (CCPA) to deal more harshly with parents whose neglect led to the abuse, exploitation and death of their children.

It was also announced at that same press briefing that the Criminal Justice and Administration Act will be amended to allow for a substantial increase in the number of years for which a person is sentenced for crimes against a child that are deemed as having “aggravating features”.

Those who kill children and commit sexual and other violent crimes against them can expect twice the amount of prison time.

The new measures have been prompted by a recent spate of child murders and sexual abuse.

During Sunday’s meeting, Eastern St Andrew Member of Parliament Andre Hylton also used the occasion to rail against abuse of the nation’s children and urged men to stand up to the responsibility of taking care of their children.

The event was also used to introduce Dollis Campbell as the PNP’s candidate to contest the Mona Division in the pending local government elections.

— Paul Henry