NATIONAL Security Minister Dr Horace Chang on Tuesday directed flak at people who are vocal in their criticism of the police but remain silent about the welfare of Jamaican children left orphaned by gunmen’s bullets.

Chang raised the issue as he opened the 2025/26 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on the same day that human rights group Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ) staged a protest in Half-Way-Tree against the high level of fatal shootings by the security forces since the start of the year.

He charged that some “significant church leaders” had joined the protest and asked where were the people speaking up for the orphans.

“There are some people, a few [protesting] but there are some significant leaders of churches involved… who at least should be giving some consideration to the 230 families who have lost people, lost family members to criminal actors [this year],” Chang said.

“There’s a particular sector of that group — orphans. There is nothing, and no organisation in the society that tends to deal with the orphans created by criminals. It’s a serious error. I have them in my constituency, I think of many and they’re difficult to treat with,” said Chang.

He recounted an incident in his St James North Western constituency in which a young man was fatally shot in front of his three sons.

“I found the resources to send them to the psychiatrist, psychologist, and provided support for their schooling, but the trauma was unbearable,” Chang shared.

“Two are [now] dead by the gun and one is in jail,” Chang added.

He told the House of another boy who saw his father killed when he was five years old and his mother cut down when he was seven.

“We have given him everything he needs — clothing, support for home, school; we have sent him to high school but the support for him State-wise and community-wise and NGO-wise is non-existent. The fact is that the entire burden falls on some of us [Members of Parliament] who know [what is happening] and understand,” added Chang.

He said that people who are prepared to look at the police and assault them should think of these victims.

“These are the sufferers of crime. Those of us who care for them understand the trauma they go through,” Chang said, adding that the involvement of an MP with these orphans amounts to almost full-time care.

“I’m sure it would have been appreciated if some of those who are prepared to wear black today would have found something to offer these [orphans],” Chang said in reference to the protesters, most of whom were clad in black at JFJ’s request.

“The police know them, Members of Parliament from either side know them, and we need to find a way to support these really humble, young victims of crime, the orphans of crime,” he said, adding, “there are too many of these orphans and they become prime recruits for criminal gangs.”