“THIS CANNOT CONTINUE” - ISAT BUCHANAN SLAMS GRUESOME KILLING OF SHANI COLE; CALLS FOR DUE PROCESS AND REGISTRY REFORM

I am horrified and deeply saddened by the gruesome murder of Shani Coke. This unspeakable act has shaken not only her family and loved ones but the conscience of our nation. No child should ever be subjected to such brutality, and no parent should have to endure the unimaginable pain of losing a child in these circumstances.

 

I extend my heartfelt condolences to Shani's family, friends, classmates, and the wider community. I mourn with you, and I stand in solidarity with every Jamaican who is demanding justice for the loss of an innocent child.

 

As Opposition Spokesperson on Youth and Human Rights, I unequivocally condemn this heinous crime and call on the Jamaica Constabulary Force to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that every person responsible is brought before the courts.

 

At the same time, I urge Jamaicans to allow the criminal justice system to function. While our grief is profound and our anger is understandable, we must remember that due process is a cornerstone of every democratic society. Justice must not only be done, but it must be seen to be done through lawful and transparent processes. We must never permit the pursuit of justice to descend into lawlessness, however justified the public's outrage may feel.

 

This tragedy also demands serious national introspection. We cannot continue to respond to these horrific crimes only after another child has been taken from us. The protection of our children requires more than expressions of sympathy, it requires decisive action from those entrusted with governing and protecting our people.

 

I therefore call upon the Minister of National Security and the Minister of Justice to explain to the Jamaican people why the Sex Offenders Registry remains inaccessible to the public. This has been a matter of significant public concern for years. Jamaicans deserve to know what legislative, policy, or administrative obstacles continue to prevent greater transparency and whether additional measures are required to better protect vulnerable children and communities.

 

The Government must now provide a clear and comprehensive update on the status of the registry, its effectiveness, and whether reforms are being pursued to strengthen child protection. This call is in the context of  an alleged sex offender  being the prime suspect in this crime.

 

Our nation is approaching a point of social upheaval. Public confidence in the institutions responsible for protecting our children is being severely tested yet another child has fallen victim to what many Jamaicans perceive as systemic failures in crime prevention, child protection, and the administration of justice. While the causes of individual crimes must be determined through proper investigation and judicial proceedings, the recurring loss of innocent young lives demands urgent examination of whether our existing systems are adequately protecting children.

 

Enough is enough.

 

Protecting our children must be Jamaica's highest priority. Every institution of the State, the justice system, law enforcement, schools, social services, churches, and communities, must work together to ensure that children are safe and that those who prey upon them are identified, prosecuted, and punished in accordance with the law.

 

Shani Coke should have had the opportunity to grow, to dream, and to live a full life. Instead, Jamaica mourns another child whose future has been stolen.

 

May her soul rest in eternal peace, as the nation pauses to contemplate  what  justice looks like  in the face of a tragedy such as this.

Source: People's National Party