Montego Bay, Jamaica | Nigel Coke/IAD
Jamaica’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice Carol Palmer speaks to a large delegation during an EnditNow convention, in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Aug. 27, 2016. Images by Nigel Coke.
Jamaica’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice Carol Palmer wants to see more Jamaicans particularly those from the religious community getting more involved in addressing cases of violence and to report crime.
Palmer was speaking to hundreds of worshipers at the Seventh-day Adventists’ Enditnow Women’s and Girls of Eloquence Morals and Standards (GEMS) Convention held at the West Jamaica Conference Center in Montego Bay, on Aug. 27, 2016.
“Far too long in this country, we have remained quiet and allow criminals to take charge”, said Mrs. Palmer who is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica. “When are we going to rise up and take back our society from evil men?
Palmer said that it is not enough to go to church on Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, or whichever day people worship, and then go home and “lock the grill, and think you’re safe. They can tear down that grill; they can disarm the security system. We are living with a false sense of security.”
“By breaking the silence you can stop violence and I believe that with all my heart. That’s why I am driving this fight as long as the government will permit me,” said Palmer.
Palmer, whose main focus of attention was on human trafficking told the congregants that human trafficking is modern day slavery, and is the third largest criminal industry world-wide behind illegal guns and arms trafficking.
Women pray in groups of two for the protection of women and children against violence and abuse during the convention.
In addition, the Global Slavery Index estimates that there are 45.8 million people in some form of modern slavery. In Jamaica, it is estimated that there are approximately 5,800 persons in some type of slavery, representing approximately 0.2 percent of the population.
“Ladies and gentlemen, if you were to meet one victim of human trafficking, I think it would be difficult for you not to have compassion,” stated Palmer. “We need to open our hearts in helping those who have suffered abuse of any kind, whether it is perpetrated against women, men, girls or boys, it is evil. Don’t be quiet about this…Let us stop this epidemic now!”
Palmer further argued that the church’s role in the fight against human trafficking is to educate, facilitate and be vocal.
She said that Human Trafficking not only comes under the guise of the drug trade and prostitution. Palmer urged parents to take care of their children and to supervise their activities on social media.
The afternoon’s program provided deeper insight into human trafficking with case studies for attendees to fully understand the dangers of the trade.
Dr. Loraine Vernall, women’s, family, children and adolescent director for the church in Jamaica presents during the EnditNow Convention.
“I didn’t know that in Jamaica such a thing as human trafficking was happening,” said Sherille Gooden from Salt Spring, St. James. “I didn’t even understand that some of the cases shared were actually human trafficking. The presentations made it so clear to me and I now understand what it is all about. I will do my part to stop it.”
Lorraine Vernal, children and adolescents ministries director as well as family and women’s ministries director for the church in Jamaica and main coordinator of the program, said the event met the objectives set out to sensitize the membership about “the importance of not only being members, but seeing the realities of atrocities, particularly as they relate to human trafficking right here in our society. Now we can look at how we can help others, by making a difference in our communities.”
