JAMAICA
Jamaica Observer
BY ALPHEA SAUNDERS Observer staff reporter saundersa@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Education Minister Senator Ruel Reid has called on Jamaicans to be cautious in their public utterances about the rape and carnal abuse case involving 64-year-old Moravian pastor Rupert Clarke and a 15-year-old St Elizabeth girl.
Addressing a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House yesterday, Reid said that the Government was urging all Jamaicans, especially those in the community where the minor lives “to treat the family with sensitivity and due regard to their well-being”.
The minister pointed out that, according to a report from the Child Development Agency (CDA) on its investigations, the family has been ostracised by the community. “The CDA investigations also show that there is general indifference towards the victim and her family. The family claims they are being blamed for bringing the accused into disrepute… and disclose that they feel very uncomfortable in their home environment. They also spoke of numerous rumours that are circulating which have placed them in a negative light,” he stated.
Reid said that a CDA safety evaluation has found that the 15-year-old and a younger sister are at a high risk of harm, especially emotional trauma, due to the sexual nature of the alleged abuse, and pointed out that this is aggravated by the fact that the incident continues to dominate the media and public discussion. He confirmed that both girls have been taken into State care.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.