Caribbean News
JAMAICA: Parents urged to speak out against corporal punishment in schools
#Montego Bay, December 3, 2018 – Jamaica – Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Dean-Roy Bernard, is appealing for parents to speak out whenever they see corporal punishment 
being enforced in schools, as it is no longer an acceptable practice.
“Violence begets violence. All of us, when we see corporal punishment being used in our schools, we should make a sound about it. We have responsibility for our children; don’t beat them,” he said.
Mr. Bernard was speaking at the National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC) National Parent Award Ceremony at Hotel Riu Montego Bay in St. James on Friday (November 30). He said that corporal punishment has lasting psychological effects on children and should not be practised.
“It destroys the self-confidence of our children. Our foreparents were beaten, and the violence has perpetuated. At some point the cycle must stop. Let us reason with our children,” he advised.
Mr. Bernard further encouraged parents to put aside the long-held notion that children should not be allowed to express opinions or take part in decision-making.
“The belief that children should be seen and not heard – we are throwing that out. We are going to give our children a voice. Let us hear from them, so we can support them,” he underscored. He reminded parents that 
parenting does not stop at age 18, as their children will still require love and support even in adulthood.
For her part, Chief Executive Officer of the NPSC, Kaysia Kerr, said that a lot of the antisocial behaviour being displayed in schools by children could be blamed on corporal punishment and verbal abuse in the home.
“We are too aggressive with our children. When you hurl insults at your children that does not help their self-esteem. You cannot be insulting your children; they will believe you,” she noted.
The National Parent Awards Ceremony recognised parents from across the island who contribute to the education sector through parent-teacher associations (PTAs) and other means.
Release: JIS
Contact: Serena Grant
Header: Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Dean-Roy Bernard, addresses the National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC) National Parent Awards Ceremony, held at Hotel Riu Montego Bay in St. James on Friday (November 30).
Insert: Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Dean-Roy Bernard (left) accepts an award from Chief Executive Officer of the National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC) , Kaysia Kerr (right), for his participation and support of the Commission’s programmes and activities during Parent Month in November. The occasion was the NPSC’s National Parent Awards Ceremony, held at Hotel RIU Montego Bay in St. James on Friday (November 30).
Serena Grant Photos
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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