THE police initiative in Rosemary Lane (Tiger Bay), whereby the children of the community were introduced to many recreational and educational activities that enhanced their social awareness and re-shaped their moral compasses, simultaneously providing guidance for career-consciousness and future life skills, has helped to build trust between that formerly criminal-oriented community and the police.

Similarly, the President Jagan/True Vision initiatives to address the social ills in a multiplicity of ways in Albouystown, which spread to Agricola and other depressed communities, also had the input of the police under the auspices of former Commissioners of Police, the late Laurie Lewis and Henry Greene; and if these initiatives had been sustained by former Police Commissioner Winston Felix then the young men, now seasoned criminals, who are taking the resources and lives of peaceful, hard-working people with impunity, might have been encouraged to follow other paths to wealth-acquisition rather than by robbing and raping the resources of others.

Therefore, it is heartening that the eight-week Home Economics (Food and Nutrition) programme, which was sponsored by Commander ‘A’ Division, Senior Superintendent Clifton Hicken for school dropouts of Agricola and its environs, is progressing very well.
There was once a time in the history of Guyana when citizens were assured of their security with the presence of the police in their communities. However, admittedly by the actions of the police themselves during decades when the law became contraband, the police lost – en bloc, the trust and respect of the ordinary, hard-working citizens of the land.
The programme, catering for over 25 students between the ages of 15 – 25 on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Home Economics School in Agricola, East Bank Demerara, is facilitating students to learn various cooking methods such as baking, preparing appetizers, making various drinks and learning to cook various dishes.
Commander Hicken has indicated by his presence in the third week into the programme his interest in the successful completion of this initiative, which could very well prove life-changing for the participants because of the promise such a programme provides of entrepreneurial and wealth-creational possibilities.
Hicken said he is impressed with the students’ progress and expressed his pleasure to be a part of and mainly the producer of the programme. “Giving someone the chance to prove their skills and then visiting back and see more than what you had expected makes you feel confident of yourself. I’m surprised at the work that the students have put out so far, right now I’m really, really happy to see what I’m seeing,” Hicken told the Chronicle.
That this is a certificate course with a promise of markets for the products of the students after they have graduated is a bonus to encourage more youngsters to get involved in enhancing their own lives and the ambience of their communities.
The Police Commander’s promise to expand initiatives of skills-training programmes to other communities is welcomed, because it adds a welcomed development to community care.