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CSJP’S Substance Misuse Treatment Programme aims to address crime in Jamaica

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#Jamaica, November 7, 2017 – Kingston – Crime prevention is a key factor driving the implementation of the Citizen Security and Justice Programme’s (CSJP) III Specialised Substance Misuse Treatment Programme, which involves collaboration with the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA).

Under the partnership, persons flagged for drug use through the CSJP’s Community Case Management programme are referred to the NCDA for a special treatment course before they transition into the vocational- or job-training features of the CSJP.

Communications/Social Media Coordinator, Patrice Nephew, addressing a recent JIS Think Tank said the initiative leads to improvements not just on an individual level but also contributes to cohesiveness in the family structure as well as the wider community.

She said self-efficacy, self-actualisation and a greater sense of well-being achieved by individuals due to reduced or no drug use after completing the treatment programme, leads to more peaceful communities.

“Once there is that productivity and they are ready for the workforce, we will see more legal commercial activity taking place, and we will see persons who are rising above their circumstances and being able to provide for their families and to help inspire other members of the community. It’s a multiplier effect,” she noted.

Mrs. Nephew said the programme, the first tranche of which has been successfully implemented, also teaches appropriate social skills, enabling persons to more amicably resolve conflicts, thereby reducing the likelihood of violence.

“We see where social capital is built and all of those positive social gains are actualized.   These are skills that our youth would be equipped with once they have gone through the programme,” she said.

Social Worker with CSJP Western, Desmond Stewart, further noted that with improved employment or educational prospects from eliminating drug use, individuals will be gainfully occupied, and, as such, have less opportunity to be involved in criminal activity.

“When they overcome the substance addiction and become gainfully employed or get involved in skills training, this reduces the amount of idle time they have. When occupied with positive things, that, in itself, will lead to a reduction in crime,” he pointed out.

The CSJP’s strategic objectives are embedded in the wider Ministry of National Security five-pillar strategy, specifically that which speaks to achieving crime reduction through social development.

Mrs. Nephew, meanwhile, said the results of the partnership, which started in July 2016, have been very encouraging, and gave commendations to the NCDA for its expertise and use of creative means to reach the youth.

The CSJP referred more than 150 individuals to the NCDA, which conducted 541 individual sessions and 80 group sessions and workshops.

Workshops were also done in communities and schools to sensitize adults and children about marijuana use and to train community volunteers to identify symptoms and persons in need of referral.

Release: JIS

 

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CARPHA Progresses to Eligibility for the First Disbursement of Pandemic Funding

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Following a landmark Public Signing Ceremony for the Pandemic Fund (PF) Technical Cooperation Agreement (“Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Prevention, Preparedness, and Response” [RG-T4387] Project) on December 14, 2023, in Trinidad, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) continues to progress towards the start of implementation.

 CARPHA fulfilled the IDB’s nine conditions prior to first disbursement, achieving full eligibility on March 15, 2024, and is now eligible for the first disbursement. This milestone achievement in just 3 months after the signing speaks to the commitment of both CARPHA, the Executing Agency, and IDB, the Implementing Entity, toward the regional PF project with the objective of supporting the reduction of the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean by building pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) surveillance & early-warning systems (EWS), laboratory systems and workforce capacity, regionally at CARPHA and in countries.

Since the signing of the Technical Cooperation Agreement and as part of the conditions prior to first disbursement, CARPHA has achieved the following key outputs (i) the development of the PF Project Operations Manual, Multi-annual Execution Plan, Procurement Plan, Financial Plan, Procedure for CARPHA’s Financial Reporting System; (ii) vacancy announcements for two tranches of consultants with the subsequent hiring of five (Technical Coordinator, Financial Specialist, Procurement Specialist, Operations Officer and Project Operations Coordinator) and (iii) the establishment of the Project Execution Unit (PEU) and Project Execution Steering Committee (PESC). The dedicated PEU will be responsible for execution according to its planned timelines, which will be led by the Dr. Lisa Indar, the Project Director (CARPHA’s Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control Division).

 CARPHA, as the lead regional public health agency and an expression of Caribbean Cooperation in Health is mandated by its Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to support its 26 CARPHA Member States (CMS) in bolstering national systems and coordinating regional response to public health threats. The Agency works closely with regional and international agencies and uses regional mechanisms, surveillance systems, and networks for coordinating its public health response work.

In July 2023, the PF Governing Board announced that CARPHA’s regional entity proposal, entitled ‘Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Strengthened Integrated Early Warning Surveillance, Laboratory Systems and Workforce Development’ was successfully selected for the first round of financing. It was one of only 19 proposals selected from over 300 submissions and the only regional project. The three priority areas in the proposal are: (i) Comprehensive disease surveillance and EWS, (ii) Laboratory systems and (iii) Human resources and public health and community workforce capacity.

This project is expected to begin implementation in March 2024, starting off with a blended onboarding session. A Stakeholder Meeting with countries is tentatively planned for July 2024.

CARPHA remains dedicated to working together with the IDB, CARPHA Member States and the Pandemic Fund to successfully implement the regional proposal geared toward reducing the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean.

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Men who had Murdered Man, Marley Higgs’ cell phone face Court

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Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Correspondent

The prosecution intends to try two young North Caicos men, both age 21 for the offense of possession of property of a murdered man, property that was stolen and landed in their possession.

The phone belonged to Peureton ‘Marley’ Higgs, who is believed to have been an innocent gunned down at his apartment complex in the Glass Shack area in a spray of bullets on February 2 that killed another man and wounded two others, including a ten-year-old little girl.

The cell phone was described as white in colour, an iPhone, in a hard black case. 

On Monday, March 18th, JEFFVANO HANDFIELD of North Caicos pleaded not guilty to the offense, and the matter was adjourned to April 2024. He was granted bail in the matter.

A second North Caicos man was charged similarly.  

SARENO CAPELLAN aka, Kino Williams is the second individual brought before the court pertaining to the said cellphone. He appeared in court a week after JEFFVANO HANDFIELD, the date being Monday March 25th 2024.

The case for the Crown is that both men sometime in February of this year possessed the cellphone knowing or suspecting it to be stolen property.

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Supreme Court Closed for Easter

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NOTICE is hereby given that the Easter Recess shall commence on Friday 29th April, 2024 and end on Friday 5th April, 2024. During the Easter Recess Judge Selochan will be available to deal only with matters that are urgent or require prompt attention.

Court Business During the Easter Recess

A person who wishes to have a matter heard during the recess must file a certificate of urgency along with an affidavit, which must set out the reasons why the matter is urgent or requires prompt attention. The matter will not be listed during the recess unless the Judge deems it fit for urgent hearing.

Opening Hours During the Easter Holiday

The Supreme Court’s last sitting day for the first term is Thursday 28th March, 2024. The Court will officially resume sittings on Monday 8th April, 2024. The Supreme Court Offices in both Grand Turk and Providenciales will continue to operate while the Court is not sitting during the recess.

The Court Office will be closed on the following public holidays:

  • Friday 29th March, 2024 (Good Friday) CLOSED
  • Monday 1st April, 2024 (Easter Monday) CLOSED

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