Outgoing Chairperson of human rights lobby group, Jamaicans for Justice, Lisa Lakhan Chen, says the recent resignations of several members will not harm the work of the organization.
There’s been a mass exodus of members from JFJ in the aftermath of the implementation of its controversial sex education programme in six private children’s homes.
Yesterday its Executive Director, Kay Osbourne, resigned after being in the post for only three months.
Her resignation follows that of seven other JFJ members, including former spokersperson Susan Goffe and the former Executive Director, Dr Carolyn Gomes.
Speaking with Nationwide News on the weekend, Mrs. Lakhan Chen says the organization remains committed its mandate despite the challenges.
Kay Osbourne’s resignation would appear to validate reports over the past three weeks that JFJ has fallen apart.
But having herself resigned from the board of the organization last Friday, Lisa Lakhan Chen is putting on a brave face.
She says the JFJ will get over what she’s describing as the setbacks of the recent resignations.
Mrs. Lakhan Chen is seeking to dispel rumours of a growing rift within JFJ.
JFJ’s former spokesperson, Susan Goffe alluded to the group’s silence on national issues in recent months as one of the reasons behind her resignation.
But Mrs. Lakhan Chen said it was necessary for the group to keep a low profile while it conducted its investigation into the sex education programme.
According to Mrs. Lakhan Chen, she was pleased with the contribution of Kay Osbourne in her short stint as Executive Director.
