KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, Pearnel Charles Jr has called on members of the Jamaican Diaspora to strengthen the support offered to social interventions targeting at-risk youth.

He acknowledged the Diaspora’s significant contribution and urged continued partnership with the government to enhance the implementation of critical programmes that promote positive youth development and violence prevention, especially for our young men.

“In 2015, 95 per cent of the persons arrested for category one crimes, that is: murder, shooting, robbery, break-in, larceny, rape and aggravated assault, were male and almost 50 per cent were in the 15 to 24 age group” said Charles.

He was speaking on day one of the Jamaica Christian Diaspora Conference, which was organized by local NGO, Operation Save Jamaica, in collaboration with churches in Jamaica and the Diaspora. The two-day inaugural Conference was held at the Iberostar Rose Hall Suites Hotel in Montego Bay on October 13 and14.

Charles assured the audience, comprising members of the diaspora, Christians, civil leaders and stakeholders involved in social and economic development on the island that the Government would be responding to the “heart cry” of Jamaica’s youth.  

The state minister maintained that “over the years, the Jamaican government – supported by international development partners (IDPs) – has initiated a range of programmes to increase the safety and security of local communities. Many of these programmes target the root causes, such as limited social skills, poor educational outcomes, dysfunctional families, poor parenting, poverty and limited employment opportunities”.

Charles reiterated the importance of diverting youth from the pathways that lead to crime and referenced some of the primary initiatives seen as key tools to support the five pillars: Citizen Security and Justice Programme III, The Peace Management Initiative, The Jamaica Combined Cadet Force (JCCF), Fight for Peace, A New Path: Promoting Productive Alternatives for Juvenile Remandees and Offenders in Jamaica Project and the recently launched Learning by Doing Initiative.

He implored delegates at the conference to engage in volunteerism and mentorship, utilise the Stay Alert App to assist the police in its crime-fighting strategies, and to be bold enough to give youth offenders a second chance in life.