KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Senate today approved its members to the Joint-Select Committee to review laws relating to violence against women, children, the elderly, and people living with disabilities.  

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange in a release this afternoon said that this means that there is a full committee from both Houses of Parliament to continue this important work which was stalled in 2014.

“I had given a commitment to the nation that the committee, which has been dormant since 2014, would be reconvened as my government believes the work that has been stalled for so long is vital in helping to address gender violence, among other critical public safety concerns,” Grange said adding, that ending gender violence is urgent and the committee, to be chaired by the Justice Minister, will begin its work early in January.

Members of Joint-Select Committee are:  Delroy Chuck, MP (Chairman), Olivia Grange, MP, Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, MP, Floyd Green, MP, Dr Lynvale Bloomfield, MP, Denise Daley, MP, Lisa Hanna, MP, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, Senator Ransford Braham, Senator Dr Sapphire Longmore, Senator Mark Golding, and Senator Sophia Fraser-Binns.

“As government, we note the recent spate of horrific violence against several women across the country, resulting in brutal killings. I not only condemn, in the strongest sense of the word, the atrocities, but I’m moving, as a member of this government, to prevent acts of gender violence, provide greater protection for victims, and to deal effectively with perpetrators,” Grange stated.