Invest more in the youths

Apr 22, 2013 News

---

 

 

– Sophia residents tell police

Sophia residents are of the view that there is a great need for more investment in the youths of their community.
This view was put forward by the residents when a team of senior police officers from the Guyana Police Force’s C Division visited the area in another community outreach programme.
On Thursday last, the ranks headed by Divisional Commander Eric Bassant engaged residents of ‘A’ Field to ‘E’ Field, North and South Sophia in discourse at the Sophia Primary School. This was to get a firsthand look at difficulties facing the residents, particularly the young people.
Selling the same idea which has already proven successful in other communities along the East Coast of Demerara, Assistant Commissioner Bassant and his deputy, Superintendent Stephen Mansell invited parents to involve their young in the soon-to-be-launched Police Youth club.
The idea, which was launched some time back, has already  seen communities like Buxton come on board; and now Sophia is being asked to let the police help shape the lives of the community’s youths. The officers promised that children will be involved in various skills training exercises.
“They will take trips, attend camps, learn survival skills and, “Possibly grow from their experiences to become professional people. All free of cost,” Mansell encouraged parents.
He emphasized that parents would merely bear the cost of shoes and socks while uniforms and any other accessories for club members would be free. Summer camps would see children having opportunities to get involved in forensics and photography training among other things.
The police highlighted that they recognize the need for them to engage communities so as to become more efficient in crime fighting.
Mansell imparted that the community has a major role to play in preventing crime and assisting crime fighting. It is for this reason the police urged the community to have an open mind about establishing a cohesive working relationship with the force.
Sophia is known as one of the prevalent crime-prone areas in Guyana, with a number of armed robberies mixed with several petty criminal activities occurring with unnerving frequency.

Several issues of petty robberies, break and enter, domestic violence among other things were raised by residents. Even matters out of the hands of the police were raised causing one resident to suggest that, “There is so much the police can do, but if there is nothing for the youths to do they become idle and find themselves in trouble.”
“In other words”, the man added, “there are no investments in the communities. We have one play field and it’s covered in grass.”
The man identified himself as Colin Marks.
He said he is a community consultant, the Vice Chairman of the Pattenson Community Development Committee and community facilitator attached to Help and Shelter.
According to Marks, Sophia, like many “ghetto” communities, lacks opportunities, while much emphasis is not being placed on development.
“Young persons, especially young men have nothing to do, and some of these persons come from testing backgrounds.”
He highlighted a massive school dropout rate in the community before noting the lack of rebound facilities for “straying or lost youngsters”.
Marks said that the community of about 41,000 residents, benefit from one vehicle twice a week to serve the Community Policing Group. This is not good enough the residents agreed, before highlighting that the group has been dormant for a while.
The visiting officers assured Sophia of assistance to revive the policing group and they also assured Marks that the police are committed to aiding the youths in whatever way through the Police Youth Group.
Residents went on to highlight poor lighting in the community which they said give confidence to preying criminals who wait in dark corners and streets to rob passersby.
They spoke of the incidence of domestic violence before suggesting that some ranks are somewhat unsure about dealing with the matter.
In relation to house break-ins, a resident claimed that the police never seem to find the perpetrators, and attributed this to the lack of police/community union.
Residents next touched on corrupt cops and made various comments about “persons’ wrongs turning into rights, after passing a small change.” They spoke about officers collecting money from persons on the streets, and slammed those paying off the police for minor infractions, suggesting that it encourages the dishonest ranks to harass law abiding citizens.
The ‘C’ Division Commander condemned any act of corruption on the part of his officers. He reminded Sophia that no officer is to demand money, gifts of inducements from any citizen, while urging them to report any such incidents.

Along with Cadet Officer Antonio Fredricks and Inspector Easton Harte of the community’s police station, Commander Bassant and Superintendent Mansell assured Sophia to, “Trust us with your children and we will make things happen.”

---

---