Betty Ann Blaine, a fervent advocate for Jamaican children’s rights, passed away at the age of 75 in Atlanta after a period of illness. Known for founding Hear the Children’s Cry and Youth Opportunities Unlimited, she tirelessly championed for policy changes to protect children, including renaming the Ananda Alert System and reducing the reporting time for missing children.
Blaine, born in Kingston and raised in Harbour View, St Andrew, was not only an activist but also a prominent figure in academia, media, and business, leaving a profound impact on Jamaica’s social landscape. Her legacy continues to inspire efforts to create a safer Jamaica for all children.
- Advertisement -
Blaine, who founded lobby group Hear the Children’s Cry in 2002 and Youth Opportunities Unlimited in 1992, wChief Executive Officer of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) Laurette Adams Thomas said described Blaine as “a child protection stalwart with a warm, yet indomitable spirit”.
A statement from Hear the Children’s Cry described Blaine as “one of their most heroic and dedicated advocates, and a dedicated, multifaceted developmental giant”, who “advocated for the welfare of children and their families, and for the eradication of poverty”.
Hear the Children’s Cry was integral in the renaming of the Ananda Alert System from its former name, the Red Alert System. The organisation also influenced policy changes which resulted in the wait time to report a missing child from 24 hours to immediately, and provided psycho-emotional intervention to children who had gone missing as well as to their families.
Blaine, a native of Kingston, grew up in Harbour View, St. Andrew, and completed her education at Excelsior High School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hunter College in New York City and pursued postgraduate studies at Columbia University. Her career encompassed diverse roles, including serving as the pioneering holistic child development coordinator at the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology in Kingston.
Blaine also hosted two weekday morning radio talk shows, ‘On The Agenda’ and ‘Blaine & Crawford,’ and lectured on Southern African and Black American History. Additionally, she played a prominent role as a spokesperson in the Jamaican Anti-Apartheid Movement. So dedicated was she that she worked up until her passing.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Prime Minister Andrew Holness expressed his condolences to her family, friends and colleagues, stating that her passion and commitment have touched countless lives. “Her legacy will continue to inspire us to create a better Jamaica for all. May her soul find eternal peace,” said Holness
Opposition Leader Mark Golding also expressed his condolences, hailing Blaine for “her unwavering dedication to the welfare of our children”. He also said, “Her legacy will continue to inspire us to create a better Jamaica for all.”
