The People’s National Party (PNP) Women’s Movement says that, like many Jamaicans, it watched closely Friday’s (March 6) sentencing of former Member of Parliament Jolyan Silvera.

In a statement on Saturday, the organisation noted its appreciation that the public had access to the process to deepen “our understanding of the sentence delivered”.

“In this regard, we accept that justice has been served in the context of our laws,” the movement said.

“The details of the incident are certainly disturbing. We continue to pray for Melissa’s children and the family. This is a difficult time for them, and we know they are still on a journey of healing. The successful prosecution of several intimate partner killings in recent times is both encouraging and disheartening,” it added.

President of the PNP Women’s Movement, Patricia Duncan Sutherland, remarked, ‘While we are happy that our justice system is responding to these cases, it is disheartening because the prevalence of intimate partner violence is too high in Jamaica, and it is concerning that so many cases are now escalating to the killing of the woman in the relationship’

As it approaches International Women’s Day, the organisation encouraged Jamaican men and women to refrain from choosing violence as a response to conflict in their relationships.