. Ministry of Youth and Culture 4-6 Trafalgar Road

Kingston 5 Jamaica, West Indies

Tel: (876) 978-7654 Fax: (876) 927-8380 !!16 April 2014 !!Sr. Marie Chin, RSM Area Administrator Sisters of Mercy of Jamaica P.O. Box 8072, C.S.O. 26 South Camp Road Kingston 5 !Dear Sr. Marie: !Subject: Alpha Boys Residential Care Facility !I have just received a statement sent to the media in your name on 14 April 2014. The statement was the basis for the front page story in todays Jamaica Observer newspaper titled Untruths hurt Alpha: Nuns say boys damaged by unfortunate statements. !The statement in your name said you had been forced to make the release because of unfortunate statements on the Alpha Boys School and resulting media commentaries, including a shocking cartoon, which have been disrespectful and have caused great stress to our students. !I share your concern regarding the distress that the reportage has caused students of Alpha Boys School and I condemn, without reservation, all acts of disrespect, in the media or otherwise, directed at the students, wards and management of the facilities. I wish to place on record that I specifically voiced my concern at our recent press conference that the issues surrounding children must be treated with care and sensitivity by our national media. As such, I found the cartoon in the Jamaica Observer on April 15, 2014 completely reprehensible and utterly irresponsible. Please allow me to, once again, place on the record, my deep appreciation for the tremendous and invaluable work done by the Sisters of Mercy over the many years, to improve the lot of our children in need of care and protection. !As the person who first brought to the attention of the nation the fact that the Alpha Boys School would be reorganised while the dormitories would be closed, I must bring to your attention the implication of wrongdoing on my part, which is given by your the statement. Whether or not, this was your intention, it is an unfair implication which needs to be addressed with the facts. Please recall, in one of your several meetings with us on February 26, 2014, there was much discussion on the unprecedented challenges being faced at Alpha Boys Home and St John Bosco. In that meeting, you shared details of the serious behavioural issues being experienced with children in your homes, gave some examples, and indicated the vision of the Sisters of Mercy on the way forward. This included the decision to close the residential programme at Alpha Boys Home. !!

Hon. Lisa Hanna, Minister: Mrs. Sherrill OReggio Angus, Permanent Secretary (Acting)

R E P LY O R S U B S E Q U E N T R E F E R E N C E T O T H I S COMMUNICATION SHOULD BE MADE TO THE PERMANENT S E C R E T A R Y A N D T H E F O L L O W I N G R E F E R E N C E QUOTED: !No

!!!Other points raised in our meeting included the human resource capacity issues faced by the Sisters of Mercy, seen in the fewer number of Sisters joining the Order, as well as inadequate financial resources. A point made that stood out for the Ministrys team in the discussions was that made by Sr. Susan Frazer, essentially stating firmly that no amount of money would cause them to rethink the decision to close the residential care facility at Alpha. A decision arising from our meeting was that a Position Paper would be submitted by the Sisters of Mercy to this Ministry, outlining the various challenges of operating a residential care facility and the reasons for the decision to close the residential programme at Alpha Boys Home. See enclosed report submitted by Sr. Susan Frazer. We subsequently received the requested Position Paper on March 3, 2014, which is enclosed. The paper described the current issues being faced and how they have changed over the years; issues included anger problems and predatory sexual behaviour of the wards. I was so moved by its contents and your decision to close the residential care facility, that the Position Paper was submitted as part of a Cabinet Note on the critical situation regarding children in residential care. The undertaking was given to Cabinet to develop a National Plan of Action for the sector, with funding requirements. The Ministry and its relevant agencies are currently working on this. !Recent media reports, as well as statements issued on your behalf, have however stated that by citing deviant behaviour of the wards, I may have misunderstood the reasons for closure of the residential care facility at Alpha Boys Home. On the contrary, in all our meetings, all parties were clear from both verbal and written communication on the reasons behind closure. Furthermore, the cost to run both homes was discussed, in light of ensuring that both Alpha and St. John Bosco could be kept open. During my tenure, I ensured that increases were given to your subvention, which was approved by Cabinet, effective September 1, 2012. I still want to urge the Sisters of Mercy to keep the residential care facility at Alpha Boys Home open. In the interest of protecting my Ministrys credibility, and the integrity of the Government of Jamaica, I will be releasing this letter with relevant attachments to the Press, so that all ambiguities will be cleared by factual information. I remain as always, committed to working with you and all persons who serve Jamaicas children. Please know that I am always available to meet with you. !!Sincerely, !!!Honourable Lisa Hanna, M.P. Minister cc: Most Reverend Charles H. Dufour, S.J. D.D Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kingston Hon. Reverend Ronald Thwaites Minister of Education Mrs. Diahann Gordon Harrison Childrens Advocate Mrs. Maxine Henry-Wilson Chairman, Child Development Agency Advisory Board Mrs. Rosalee Gage Grey CEO, Child Development Agency

Hon. Lisa Hanna, Minister: Mrs. Sherrill OReggio Angus, Permanent Secretary (Acting)