Police send strong message to negative role models

COMMANDER of ‘A’ Division, Clifton Hicken on Saturday sent a strong message to residents along the East Bank of Demerara, especially those in Mocha Arcadia, that the police will not condone those who seek to act as bad role models for the young people.

Hicken made the comments while addressing a gathering of young people and some parents in Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara where the police launched a youth group. The launching was expected to be done some time back but was placed on hold due to preparations for GuyExpo.

MESSAGE
He said that now that the police would be having a closer relationship with the community, a message is being sent to persons who are in the habit of smoking illicit drugs, being in possession of illegal weapons and who gamble to desist from those practices.
According to the commander, should the police find anyone involved in such activities they will be dealt with condignly since such influences and role models are poisonous to the minds of the young children who may feel that such activities when unchallenged are normal.
Hicken called on the community to support the work of the police and urged residents to come out in partnership so that each child in Mocha Arcadia can rest assured that their village elders are part of a process that is geared towards making them better young people.
The approach being taken by the police in the community will be similar to what obtained in places like Agricola, Grove and other communities where the police have started a partnership.
The commander made it clear that there will no rush of police ranks into the village but if during the interaction it is expressed by the law-abiding citizens that such an approach is needed then the police will assess the situation and make the necessary decisions.
As part of the work the police would be doing with the community is the development of two separate football teams of males and females. There would also be the rolling out of several skills training programmes. This, however, will depend on discussions between the police and residents this coming Saturday at 10:00hrs.
The discussions will also focus on the development of a budget that will address the issues of engaging the young people of the community, primarily between the ages of 3 and 18.

UNEMPLOYMENT
Mocha Arcadia is not known for serious crimes compared to other communities along the East Bank corridor, but the community has a very high number of unemployed persons, especially males.
That is one of the issues the police would be looking to address. One police officer who dwells in the community at the village outpost said that reports are usually about minor incidents but the issue of unemployed young people has not gone unnoticed.
Since the village itself does not have many established businesses, the police are calling on the business community to team up with the police to address this issue, either through the ‘A’ Division Commander’s office or the Commissioner of Police.

(By Leroy Smith)