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In the wake of nine-year-old Kelsey Ferrigon’s brutal murder, Jamaica’s Public Defender has launched a wide-ranging probe into the operations and effectiveness of the country’s Sex Offender Registry.
Kelsey was found partially nude, stuffed inside a barrel at her Job Lane home on May 9, 2025. The accused killer — Giovanni Ellis, a repeat sex offender — was later shot dead during a police confrontation in Clarendon.
The Office of the Public Defender, led by Carolyn Reid-Cameron, confirmed this week that it has initiated a forensic investigation into the registry's transparency, access limitations, and overall performance since its implementation in 2014.
🧠 A STEP BEYOND HEADLINES: REAL ACTION OR JUST REACTION?
The move comes after mounting public pressure to make the Sex Offender Registry more accessible, with many arguing that limited access has made it a shield for repeat offenders.
Child advocacy group Hear the Children’s Cry welcomed the probe, saying it ensures that Kelsey’s death won’t be reduced to just another “nine-day wonder”.
Attorney and group spokesperson Priscilla Duhaney said:
“We are glad this is still being talked about. In Jamaica, we’re often reactive, not proactive. A child was murdered by someone with a known history—how do we not change that system?”
🧩 INVESTIGATION SCOPE
According to the Public Defender, the probe will focus on:
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Statutory Compliance: Is the registry functioning according to law?
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Operational Effectiveness: Are current protocols protecting children and vulnerable groups?
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Constitutional Balance: Does the system balance public safety with individual rights?
Agencies like the Department of Correctional Services and Ministry of Justice are cooperating. The final report will be submitted to Parliament.
🗣️ OUR TAKE
The registry can’t remain a secret club for officials. If sex offenders are blending into society without proper monitoring or public awareness, then the system is broken.
We echo Hear the Children’s Cry: this isn’t just about public access — it’s about enforcement, monitoring, and accountability. If the registry isn’t updated, tracked, or enforced, it’s not protecting anyone.
One child is too many.
Kelsey deserved better. We all do.
Let’s push for real change, not quiet reports.
Follow the updates. Demand transparency.
Stay tuned to Mykro Wave TV JM — where real stories matter.