Jamaica Relief Ministries official denies Robanske ties

At least one director of Jamaica Relief Ministries (JRM) has denied that the organisation is affiliated with Embracing Orphans, whose head, Carl Robanske, has been flagged in Jamaica and the United States for alleged inappropriate sexual contact with children.

The Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) was on Wednesday ordered by Minister of Education and Youth Fayval Williams to cut ties with JRM.

The ministry had previously instructed the CPFSA to end its relationship with Embracing Orphans in the wake of a recent damning report by the Office of the Children’s Advocate (OCA).

The 93-page report outlined findings on the controversial partnership between the CPFSA and Embracing Orphans.

Kyle Quill, a director based in South Carolina, sought to distance JRM from Embracing Orphans and denounced the alleged misconduct of its leader.

“We are not associated with Embracing Orphans at all. We 100 per cent condemn Robanske’s actions. It’s awful, and that’s not what God wants from us as Christians. We’re just here to show Christ’s love to the people of Jamaica and the children, and we want to build the kingdom of God, and that’s our goal,” Quill said in a Gleaner interview Wednesday.

Quill said that he had been unaware, prior to the Gleaner interview, of the ministry’s instruction that the CPFSA sever ties with the non-profit organisation of which he has been a director for about six months.

“It’s brand-new information. I hope that’s not true because there are beautiful children who need help, so I certainly hope that’s not true,” Quill said, adding that he was unsure how the directive would impact its operations locally.

When pressed to give details about its Jamaica operations, such as the number of children housed at its group home, Quill said: “I think this phone call should be over with.”

He then referred The Gleaner to fellow director Duane Cross, whose contact he said he could not immediately provide.

Efforts to reach other directors listed by Companies Office of Jamaica were unsuccessful.

Jamaica Relief Ministries’ website says that it is a non-profit organisation involved in various child- and family-related ministries in Jamaica.

It operates a group home for children ages 0-8 in Montego Bay, St James.

JRM also provides transitional housing for young adults exiting state care, and its volunteers assist in caring for children at the government-operated Blossom Gardens Childcare Facility.

In a media statement issued on Wednesday, the education minister noted that the OCA had named JRM as an entity that is closely associated with Embracing Orphans.

“... The principals know each other, and they have traditionally partnered with each other on projects which target children in Jamaica. The degrees of separation from Embracing Orphans are, therefore, not too far removed,” she stated.

Meanwhile, Williams said a staff audit would be undertaken to build the skills of social workers and others in the child-protection sector.

She said qualification requirements would be adjusted for new entrants in accordance with the higher standards and duty of care needed in the sector.

The Ministry of Education and Youth will also be working with international partner UNICEF on an independent accountability and oversight mechanism for the operations of the child-protection system.

Further, Williams said a Cabinet submission is being prepared to seek approval to amend the laws to transition the CPFSA from being an executive agency guided by an advisory board that can only provide non-binding advice to the management of the CPFSA.

The paradigm shift would allow for the implementation of a board of directors to provide stronger governance.