Caribbean News
JAMAICA: Response to Sexual Assault Cases Pleases High Commissioner
#Jamaica, December 28, 2017 – Kingston – Canada’s High Commissioner to Jamaica, Her Excellency Laurie Peters, says she is heartened by the progress made in improving the local justice system’s response to the incidence of sexual assault and the treatment of survivors. She cites legal stipulations restricting defence attorneys from using the backgrounds of complainants and survivors to question their credibility in trial proceedings, and the holding of in-camera hearings for all sexual assault cases, including those involving children, among the notable achievements.
Other key gains highlighted by Ms. Peters include the introduction of a criminal bench book to better aid judges in directing juries during trials, and establishment of the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA), which she notes “has been doing a very good job… in improving the investigative and support services provided to complainants”.
The High Commissioner was speaking at the recent launch of the ‘Model Guidelines for Sexual Offence Cases in the Caribbean Region’, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.
While acknowledging CARICOM countries’ progress in promoting gender equality, Ms. Peters said sexual violence perpetrated against boys, girls and women remains a “significant problem”. She cited a 2016 Inter-American Development Bank-funded report on crime and violence in Jamaica, which indicated that almost 60 per cent of all sexual assault victims were girls aged 10 to 19. Further, that almost 50 per cent of women were forced into sexual relationships by age 20.
The High Commissioner said against the background of this and other “sobering” statistics, development and introduction of the Model Guidelines for Sexual Offence Cases in the Caribbean document represents a significant milestone for Jamaica and the wider region.
“These guidelines provide internationally accepted best practices in the management of sexual offence cases. They provide very important guidance to justice-sector stakeholders involved in the reporting, investigation, prosecution and adjudication of sexual offences. Additionally, they provide a rights-based approach to the treatment of complainants and vulnerable witnesses, including children, who are involved in sexual assault cases,” she added.
Ms. Peters expressed the hope that the guidelines will be adopted by regional countries, “and that their implementation will result in a variety of outcomes, including speedy adjudication of cases and reduction of case backlogs, over time”.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice, Hon. Zaila McCalla, who spoke at the launch, lauded the Office of the Children’s Advocate (OCA) for spearheading drafting of Jamaica’s Child Justice Guidelines and training judicial officers and other stakeholders in the application of these provisions. She also expressed gratitude to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other international partners for assisting with the sensitization and training of judges in adjudicating cases involving children, whether as witnesses, victims or offenders.
Mrs. McCalla further thanked the Justice Ministry’s Victim Services Division (formerly Victim Support Unit) for their involvement, noting that the session organised for judges “opened our eyes and informed us that there must be a new way of dealing with children in our justice system”.
The Model Guidelines for Sexual Offence Cases in the Caribbean Region was launched in tandem with the Jamaican judiciary under the Can$90-million Judicial Reform and Institutional Strengthening (JURIST) Project, which is being funded by the Government of Canada and administered under Global Affairs Canada. The multi-year project is being implemented by the CCJ on behalf of the Conference of the Heads of Judiciary of CARICOM. The CCJ and other regional partners are contributing some $4 million to the initiative.
Global Affairs Canada is the department that manages Canada’s diplomatic and consular relations and leads the country’s international development and humanitarian assistance programmes.
Release: JIS
Caribbean News
Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts celebrate a night of wins, and take home a total of 16 titles at the 32nd Annual World Travel Awards
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (October 6th, 2025) – CaribCon, the Caribbean conference celebrating culture, innovation, and creativity, will welcome some of the region’s most influential voices to its inaugural edition in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The event, set to be a dynamic gathering of thought leaders and cultural icons, will feature impactful panel discussions, inspiring and intimate fireside chats and a flow of knowledge from some of the Caribbean’s brightest and best in the creative sector.
Elizabeth “Lady” Montano
Jamaica’s own Dr. Terri-Karelle Johnson, celebrated communications specialist, media personality, and global keynote speaker, will headline CaribCon as the official keynote speaker. Known for her ability to connect authentically and inspire audiences worldwide, Dr. Reid will share her insights on Caribbean identity, storytelling, and the power of representation in shaping global narratives. Another highlight of CaribCon will be the presence of Elizabeth “Lady” Montano, mother and former manager of soca superstar Machel Montano. Lady will launch her award-winning book, King of Soca, in which she is positioned as the ultimate insider, chronicling the evolution of one of the Caribbean’s most iconic entertainers. She will also share her invaluable experiences on nurturing talent, building a brand, and sustaining longevity in the competitive music industry in an intimate fireside chat. Adding further star power to the event is Simon Baptiste, CEO of Question Mark Entertainment, co-founder of ODOS, a global collective network spanning over 1000 professionals in 35 countries, film director, talent manager and creative strategist. Baptiste will bring his expertise to conversations on shaping the region’s creative sector and talent.
Simon Baptiste
“CaribCon is where the Caribbean’s voices, ideas, and creativity converge,” says Omega Simmons, founder of CaribCon and CEO of SOS Media. “Having leaders like Terri Karelle, Lady Montano, and Simon Baptiste share their stories and expertise truly embodies the spirit of this event. Their presence reinforces the power of Caribbean culture to inspire and influence on the world stage.” CaribCon will take place at the Shore Club in Providenciales, the Turks and Caicos Islands, from October 23rd to 26th. Attendees can look forward to networking opportunities, panel discussions, and meaningful dialogue to foster an ecosystem that develops the region’s creative sector and propels it onto the global stage.
Sponsors are:
Signature Experience Partners: Ministry of Tourism, Experience Turks and Caicos, and The Shore Club.
Other sponsors: PPID, Invest TCI, InterCaribbean Airways, Subtronic Sounds, Spotlight Communications.
Hotel partners: Ocean Club Resorts, Waterloo Hotel Management, The Somerset on Grace Bay and Ports of Call Resort.
For more information, tickets, and updates, visit www.caribcon.co or follow @caribconhq on all social media platforms.
For more information please email: contact@caribcon.co
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