MONTEGO BAY, St James — Proceedings resumed on Friday in the St James Parish Court in the high-profile case against 16 members of the Qahal Yahweh religious group. Two prosecution witnesses — one from the Ministry of Education and another from the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) — were cross-examined.

First to take the stand was an assistant registrar from the ministry’s Independent Schools Branch. She was questioned by defence attorney Peter Champagnie KC regarding a statement she had provided to police concerning the Total Learning Centre — a school operated on the Qahal Yahweh compound.

Champagnie’s line of questioning zeroed in on the registration of the school. He began by referencing her prior testimony:

“In your evidence-in-chief you said that there was no record of this institution being registered. My question to you is: When you said there was no record of this institution as a registered school, was that statement that you made an absolute statement without any qualification?” Champagnie asked. The witness replied in the affirmative.

He then explored the ministry’s documentation process, asking whether the ministry occasionally publishes directories for public use. She responded affirmatively. Champagnie pressed further, confirming with the witness that these directories contain listings of registered independent educational institutions — which she acknowledged.

“Would you agree with me that there was an instance when the Total Learning Centre was listed as a registered independent educational institution?” asked the attorney.

“No, I do not agree because I have not seen that evidence,” the witness responded.

After being shown a document, Champagnie pressed further: “Having been shown the document, do you now accept that there was an instance when the Total Learning Centre was registered as an independent educational institution?” The witness maintained her position, stating she still did not accept it.

Champagnie then put it to her that the school, located in St James, had previously been registered with the Ministry of Education — a claim with which she disagreed.

“Do you accept that each independent educational institution, upon registration, is assigned a school code?” she was asked, to which she responded yes.

“I am suggesting to you that when the Total Learning Centre was registered it was assigned the code 08496,” the attorney continued. The witness replied that she was not aware of that.

She was then shown another document, identified as a ministry directory of educational institutions. She acknowledged its authenticity. When asked whether the Total Learning Centre was listed in it as one of the independent educational institutions she said, “Based on the document that was shown to me, the Total Learning Centre is listed as an independent educational institution.”

She confirmed that her enquiries were made in June 2023 and her police statement was prepared in November 2024.

During re-examination by the court clerk the witness was asked about the directory shown to her and she stated that it was published between 2018 and 2019, several years before her enquiries.

Under cross-examination the representative from CPFSA stated that one of the key reasons for her visit to the compound was to ensure the safety and protection of the children.

The investigating officer was next scheduled to take the stand, but the court was informed that he had been transferred from St James to St Elizabeth. In light of his absence, Judge Grant-Pryce adjourned the matter until June 13 and ordered that a subpoena be issued to secure his attendance at the next court date.

Bail for all 16 accused was extended.

The defendants — Christopher Anderson, Omar Thompson, Jevaughn Thompson, Nekeisha Harding, Derrick Clarke, Roanalee Maitland, Alicia Meadley, Fabian Nelson, Franchain Paris, Jodian Spence, Jose Foskin, Oral Spence, Rayon Letman, Ingrid Williams, Vera Woolery, and Melisha Thompson — are facing charges under the Child Care and Protection Act and the Education Act.

The roots of the current charges trace back to a June 7, 2023 raid on the Qahal Yahweh compound located in Paradise, Norwood, St James. Authorities rescued 23 children during the operation, placing them under State protection.

Just weeks later, on June 30, law enforcement returned, culminating in the arrest and formal charging of 16 individuals linked to the controversial group.

This is not the first time Qahal Yahweh has come under scrutiny. The group first made national headlines in 2019 when six children — among them a pregnant 16-year-old — were removed from the same compound.