COMMISSIONER of Police, Leroy Brumell and Crime Chief, Deputy Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud, yesterday vowed to continue working with the more than four dozen young people who are members of the Rosemary Lane Police Youth Club.

The children are drawn mostly from what is commonly referred to as “Tiger Bay” and while some have since relocated from that area, they are still part of the group which has been in existence for some 20 years now.

The Guyana Police Force yesterday hosted the annual luncheon and Christmas party for the children at the Police Sports Club, Eve Leary.
In his address to the young people in the presence of their parents, senior police officers and other invitees, Commissioner Brumell expressed satisfaction that the parents would allow their children to be part of the group and noted that this speaks of the interest the parents have in ensuring their children’s safety and development.
He said that it also indicates even more significantly that the parents are showing confidence in the police and are keen to ensure that the police and the public share a relationship, especially with the young people in our society.
According to the Top Cop, during the years of the youth club several persons would have passed through, although it is not clear as yet whether any of them later joined the police force.
He pointed to the many programmes being offered by the youth group, including counselling, awareness of child abuse, lessons on interpersonal violence, Information Technology and traffic awareness.
Brumell said that with respect to traffic awareness, in his own analysis children seem to be better road users than adults and the statistics on road fatalities support this view. He opined that children seem to be adhering to the rules of the road and are involved in fewer accidents compared to the seniors.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Police Persaud said that his department, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), will not allow the youth group to fall by the wayside. Persaud and the CID are responsible for the group and have been doing much work to ensure that the young people who are members are not caught up in activities that can affect their lives negatively.
He said that at the moment they are trying to move away from the traditional arrangement of having the children only on Sundays and to have them come out during the week on afternoons or evenings so that they can have more work done with them.
He said that the children have been involved in sports, photography, and several other activities that have been effectively keeping them occupied.
Seelall said further that he has seen a lot of potential and talent among the young people and this is more evident whenever the children are brought together at functions such as the one yesterday.
He said that the focus of the Guyana Police Force is to harness the talents and abilities of the children to allow them to realise their goals and potential, while assisting them to make decisions and choices which will not destroy them and prevent them from reaching adulthood.

INCENTIVES
Yesterday, several of the children were rewarded with gifts and cash incentives for their performances and talent which were witnessed by their relatives and senior police officers.
At the end of the day, all the children will receive a $4,000 incentive which was awarded to the youth group by Police Commissioner Brumell and those who have worked with the group were also appreciated and rewarded.
Written By Leroy Smith