THE Guyana Police Force, having launched more than fifty youth groups in the various police divisions countrywide, ‘A’ Division Commander, Senior Superintendent Clifton Hicken has made it clear that the police, and by extension the society, is looking to have value for monies spent.

Addressing senior and junior officers as well as young people and their parents at the Central High School launching of one such group in his division, the Commander pointed out that the police would be rolling out a programme that would be conducive for the children in the community, but this would have to be done amidst analysis. He added that for the programmes to be sustained the GPF has to invest money which comes from its coffers and those of the members of the business community and other donors, and all donors are expecting to see value for money and favourable returns in the form of transformation of communities and lives of young people with whom the police seek to work.

The police would therefore adopt an approach wherein they would engage the children apart from their school curriculum and away from the communities, as they seek to let them see that there is a world outside their respective home community and that there are opportunities other than what may have been told to them by persons who have been acting as unhealthy role models to them.
The commander called on parents and adults to be more involved in the lives of children within their communities, and to try spending at least fifteen minutes each Saturday at the gathering that the police would be having with the children, so that they can see that the police are getting the support of the elders of the communities, hence the children would understand that it is okay for them to communicate and cooperate with the police.

The gathering was, however, told that the GPF would not be allowing its work with the young people and those who wish to support the police to be clouded against their real role of ensuring law and order and ridding the communities of persons who are of questionable character and are bent on acting as negative role models to the young people.
“We will deny you of those role models. Some people will be made uncomfortable in our effort…, and this is very important, lest they remain to spoil your children and poison their minds by having them transporting drugs and other banned items in their haversacks and by other means,” Commander Hicken elaborated in his address to the gathering.

He further cautioned that such persons are not people whom parents want their children to be associating with, since their deeds are not good and only bring harm to innocent people.

The police would also be assisting school children with school supplies during the upcoming school term, the commander disclosed.

The senior officers of the No 1 Sub-Division were also encouraged to keep a very close tie and relationship with the members of the newly formed groups and their guardians and parents.

(By Leroy Smith)