ALTHOUGH he was not there in person, Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud, in collaboration with Crime Chief Leslie James and the Criminal Investigation Department ranks yesterday held the Force’s annual Christmas luncheon for the children of the Rosemary Lane youth group, a tradition which started in 1992 under the late Commissioner of Police, Laurie Lewis, DSM.Speaking on behalf of the Top Cop, the Crime Chief expressed appreciation that the Force has been able to continue the tradition.

James said that he was pleased with the talent which the children displayed, since the hallmark of the initiative between the Police and the community of Rosemary Lane was to have the children engaged in vocational skills, building interpersonal skills and other disciplines.
He commended the police ranks and the other contributors to the programme for a job well done in their tutoring of the young boys and girls. Gratitude was also offered to Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud and the police administrative team.
Meanwhile, Woman Cadet Officer Halley, who gave an overview of the programme, said that for the New Year the police will be looking to expand its programme in Rosemary Lane. She said that the children during this year were exposed to various skills training which included lectures on child, domestic and other forms of abuse.
They were also given religious guidance and the methods and practices they should adopt to abstain from drugs. Also this year, 18 of the children were participants in the Women Police Youth Camp on the Linden Highway.

There was also a summer camp, which was organised by the CID, where the young children were exposed to developmental classes in Mathematics and English. There are also persons from the Supreme Court who have been working with the young people, according to the young senior officer during her overview.
For the New Year also, the children would also be engaged in photography and music and would also be encouraged to make the Guyana Police Force their career of choice.