-promises to provide youths with skills training

MINISTER of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, and a team from the Board of Industrial Training will, this week, visit residents of Kaneville, East Bank Demerara to offer opportunities to youths in the community.
This was disclosed by Deputy Commissioner of Operations (ag), Clifton Hicken on Saturday last during a follow-up outreach to the community. Hicken and team met with residents adjacent to the “Black and White Bridge” to assess the impact of measures recently implemented to deter crime.
Hicken wasted no time in performing a quick analysis of what had occurred in the one-week period, and the existing situation since his last visit.
“From last week to now, have you seen a change in this general area where we’re sitting, this famous bridge? Have you seen a change in terms of the pattern of crime, police presence? Have you seen the motorcycles here? Are you seeing a difference in terms of vegetation?” he asked the gathering.
There was a unanimous acknowledgment by residents that the action taken had resulted in an immediate and positive change in their community, particularly the visible and constant police presence.

But the Deputy Commissioner followed his query by issuing a charge of reciprocity to the residents.
“My only challenge to you is putting a structure in place that is good. Having the structures sustained is another problem. This cannot be done in isolation,” Hicken said.
He continued: “The same amount of energy you exerted to ensure that you sent your message to me; the time I took to ensure I reciprocated in terms of putting structures in place to mitigate what you were telling me. The same amount of energy, I would like for you to use now to ensure that you urge the police to maintain this structure.”
Underscoring the purpose of having formed a WhatsApp group in conjunction with residents and the police, Hicken told the gathering “…if you’re not seeing the police (when you’re supposed to) question why…That is your responsibility as members of the public, to ensure that you hold the police accountable.”
The Deputy Commissioner then enquired as to why the instruction to form two Community Policing Groups (CPGs) had not been carried out.
He was informed that a senior officer from the Diamond/Grove Station had visited the area on Wednesday last to conduct the process but did not get to do so, because only three persons – of the 35 who were present – volunteered to form the group.

“Now this is not good enough, because you all (residents) gave that commitment to me when we were here, and you said you would be part of the process; because it’s only fitting that you be part of the policing of your community. And forming a community policing group with the police legitimises your authority to enforce crime prevention strategies in your community,” Hicken stated emphatically.
“I don’t want you to…when I’m here you say something, and when the police approach you to be part of the process, you’re saying something else, that is not a partnership.”
It was then agreed by the residents that they would not stymie the process with their indifference and that they were committed to forming the two groups. The promised rotation at the Diamond/Grove Station was carried out, and this was also given the stamp of approval, with “a different attitude” being seen from the new ranks.
The Deputy Commissioner was then updated on the progress made with the formation of youth groups, in an effort to “…find something constructive for the youths who are being misguided, to do, so that we can prepare them to be integrated into the workforce to develop themselves, and by extension, the country.” He was informed that an Inspector and Sergeant had gone into the community, and the process had begun to take shape.

It was also noted that parents were informed via letter “so that they could be part of the process”.
“Please, avail your children. For those who are not inclined towards academia, we’re bringing skillsets to them – plumbing, welding, masonry, carpentry – so that we can maintain the community’s ambience,” Hicken said.
And to further emphasise his commitment to the youths, the Deputy Commissioner briefly contacted the Labour Minister and requested to place him “on speaker” for the residents to hear of the minister’s intention to visit the community this week.
“On Wednesday, sometime in the day, myself and the team from the Board of Industrial Training – that is the training arm of the Ministry of Labour – will be coming to you; to sit with you, so that we can plan and map programmes together for training in your community,” Minister Hamilton promised.
This announcement was met with loud applause. The meeting concluded shortly after a senior member of the Station Management Committee presented two footballs to Inspector J. Layne, who is the officer in charge at Diamond/Grove, to assist with the youth group initiative.