RESIDENTS of Linden and other areas in the Police ‘E’ Division have been calling on the police to broaden its Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Programme, according to Divisional Commander, Superintendent Calvin Brutus.

The Guyana Police Force under Commissioner Seelall Persaud has adopted the DARE Programme as a policy initiative which is being rolled out in every police division across the country.
Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle recently, Commander Brutus said that in addition to visiting schools and youth groups to conduct the DARE Programme, they also have a one-month programme on television in collaboration with the National Communications Network (NCN) where security tips and laws pertaining to offences are publicized.
At present, police in ‘E’ Division are targeting five schools for the DARE Programme and the focus is primarily for students in 3rd and 4th forms while some attention is also given to 5th form students following requests by the head teachers.
The DARE programme was recently extended to the Parent Teacher Associations in a few of the schools on the request of the head teachers.
Brutus said that the point was made that the students are exposed to the training and lectures but when they return home they end up in the same environment which to some extent diminishes the real objective of the programme.

SCOUTS AND OTHER GROUPS
The ‘E’ Division has also been extending the DARE Programme to scout groups and other youth groups, according to Brutus who said that while it is not part of the initial strategy, the police have found that it has been successful.
Meanwhile, the police in the division are stretching out to areas such as Wismar, Wisrock and Blueberry Hill. The police have already launched several youth groups within the central area as well as outskirt locations, according to Brutus.
Among the other initiatives being pursued with the young people is the training in playing the steel pan.
Moreover, within a few days, a private security service from Georgetown would be traveling to the mining town, upon the request of the police, to do some work on a building which would be converted to an indoor sports facility for the young people.