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	Licensing for Child Care Facilities Radio Jamaica July 28, 2008 http://www.radiojamaica.com/content/view/10317/26/ A licensing regime is to be put in place immediately to ensure that all child care facilities, state-run or private, are operated under the Child Care and Protection Act. The decision came out of a meeting on Monday with officials of the Ministry of Health, the Child Development Agency (CDA) and other stakeholders. It was revealed during the meeting that none of the island's childrens' homes is registered. According to Jamaicans for Justice, JFJ Executive Director, Dr. Carolyn Gomes, the homes are registered under the Juvenile Act which has been repealed. She says in light of the seriousness of the issue, the Minister announced that the homes are to be licensed. "The ministry is to write to the homes to ask them to apply for the license within 21 days, under this licensing process should take no longer than 28 days, so that we are looking forward to for the end of October having a proper regime in place," she said. She added that the regulations governing childrens' homes are to be reviewed. However, no time line has been given. The JFJ had expressed concern that regulations were not being enforced by the Child Development Agency. Monday's meeting came in light of reports last week of a case of buggery at a residential child care facility. It's reported that a Pastor in the eastern parish of St Mary who is also a supervisor at a boys' home was charged with 30 counts of buggery when he appeared in court last week.
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