• Latest
STAR Intervention Programme brings out best in RGPF

STAR Intervention Programme brings out best in RGPF

7 months ago
Claims of coronavirus at SGU designed to create fear and panic

Covid-19 update: Grenada Dashboard 19 April

15 hours ago
New health centre in Gouyave

New health centre in Gouyave

16 hours ago
Tanteen Road Closes At Noon

Road Closure: Hermitage Public Road

16 hours ago
Grenada Bar Association — Supporting Our Youth

High Court dismissed claim filed by Garden Group shareholder

17 hours ago
SGU and Government of Grenada establish diagnostic testing facilities

Prime Minister welcomes planned return of SGU students in August

17 hours ago
Higher Gas Prices for March 2014

Higher gas prices for April 2021

18 hours ago
Conference: Caribbean Children and Caregivers

Speaking Up: April is Child Abuse Awareness Month

20 hours ago
UWI Political Science lecturer encourages a ‘Yes’ vote to Bill #6

Towards a politics for sustainability

20 hours ago
Plan, Prepare, Perform – United States supports St Vincent volcano response

Plan, Prepare, Perform – United States supports St Vincent volcano response

22 hours ago
RFP: Corporate Communications Officer

Volcanic ash advisory

1 day ago
Aspire To A Locavore Lifestyle

Price increase for meat products predicted

3 days ago
Grenada will not attend first OECS Parliament session

OECS and African Union partner to overcome vaccine challenges!

3 days ago
NOW Grenada

Main Header Ad 468x60

booked.net
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
NOW Grenada
No Result
View All Result

Article Header

STAR Intervention Programme brings out best in RGPF

This story was posted 7 months ago
29 September 2020
in Lifestyle, OPINION/COMMENTARY, Youth
4 min. read
Dr Neals J Chitan
Share

by Dr Neals J Chitan

Although the word “Enforcement” is internationally known to be synonymous with policing, members of the Royal Grenada Police Force broke that perception for the last 3 weeks, replacing “Enforcement” with “Encouragement” and making a powerful positive impact on the lives of the teen campers of the STAR Intervention Programme (SIP) camp in Morne Longue, St Andrew.

As Programme Administrator and Co-ordinator of this initiative, I was given a team of individuals who seemed to share a common concern for the empowerment of high school boys who are at-risk with dropping out and who showed an inclination to anti-social behaviour. Among my team was Inspector Kenneth Bascombe of the Royal Grenada Police Force, whose primary function was to co-ordinate the security aspect of our programme, ensuring our students and staff were safe.

To build trust, connection and a working relationship between staff and the 12 young men from Grenville Secondary School who were the first registrants of the SIP initiative, a 3-week live-in camp was conducted from 7-25 September 2020, in the scenic mountain resort village of Morne Longue, St. Andrew. Although I wasn’t too familiar with that community and had not been there since leaving Grenada 37 years ago, I felt confident and safe in the company of my new friend and colleague Inspector Bascombe a quiet, disciplined professional with an infectious smile.

Along with Inspector Bascombe was his colleague another mild mannered professional from the RGPF, Sergeant Aaron Thomas. These gentlemen embraced our mantra of “Encouragement above Enforcement” and played a critical role in light-handedly keeping discipline and security of our young men while complimenting and encouraging good behaviour. But who can forget the chef role played by Sergeant Thomas on the first day when the assigned cook was engaged somewhere else and he got behind the stove and cooked a pelau that cannot be forgotten? By the way, as a Christian professional, he also added the spiritual food to the menu as he frequently did the morning devotions before class.

As the days went by, it seemed as if the RGPF handpicked the officers that would augment the services of Inspector Bascombe and Sergeant Thomas. This group of officers included Constable 461 Laurie Williams, RC Antonio “Pitbull” Charles, Constable 221 Charles, Constable 716 Akin Augustine and Constable 447 Dwight Williams, who provided security in our sleeping quarters and camp in general, along with WPC 55 Coutain and WPC 314 Augustine who accompanied our campers on their island tour.

There is no doubt that with young men coming from rival communities, different backgrounds and experiences, the air was sometime thick with confrontations, disrespect and obscenity, but these law men and women focused on the mission of ‘Encouragement above Enforcement” thus turning what could have been charges, into changes!

Although all our police officers showed unbelievable commitment to our change process, I must mention the devotion and deep commitment of PC 461 Laurie Williams. As a matter of fact, he knew that he would face a stiff challenge with the campers since he had responded several times to their high school to hold them accountable for their actions, but he was undaunted in his approach and soon gained their confidence and trust. Officer Laurie, as he was affectionately referred to, developed a daily routine of playing high impact inspirational speeches for our boys and leading them into thought-provoking discussions before leading them into heart throbbing prayers.

I watched one morning as Officer Laurie encouraged and pleaded with our boys to give God a try in their lives, then with his eyes closed the young officer laid his hands on every boy, praying earnestly that God would change their lives and make them into respectful and responsible men. I listened in awe, witnessing a major paradigm shift! The hands that are usually laid on a young man to arrest, subdue and enforce were now laid in tenderness, care and encouragement!!

I stood there with my eyelids heavy with tears and quickly wiped them away attempting to hide my emotions and regain my composure before the prayer concluded and eyes were opened again.

That experience changed my life! And despite my partnership with police forces around the world to reduce crime and violence, I immediately felt a strong kinship with my hometown officers of the RGPF and knew that Officer 461 Laurie Williams had also touched a golden chord in the hearts of our boys that day as he lived out our mantra of “Encouragement above Enforcement.”

“Hats Off” to RGPF — our partner in crime reduction!!

Neals J Chitan holds a doctorate in Social and Behavioural Sciences and is the Grenadian-born president of Motiv-8 For Change International — a Toronto based High Impact Social Skill Agency that is specially dedicated to the social empowerment of individuals, families and communities. He can be reached regionally at 473-416-8377 and from North America 647-692-6330 or email: [email protected]

NOW Grenada is not responsible for the opinions, statements or media content presented by contributors. In case of abuse, click here to report.

Tags: encouragementenforcementmorne longueneals chitanroyal grenada police forcest andrewstar intervention programme
Next Post

Update on Moliniere slippage

Comments 5

  1. Rogers says:
    7 months ago

    I would of rather learn what the STAR intervention programme has done towards the improvement of our youths and what was the take away they got from the programme instead of the praises given to our officers. In all respect they are suppose to be our finest and nothing esle should be expected but just that.

    Reply
  2. Nicole Bubb says:
    7 months ago

    Hearts of to our dedicated police officers,may God continue to guide dis group of young men n I pray dat dey will learn good skills n moral values, God bless all

    Reply
  3. Patricia Julien says:
    7 months ago

    God answers all prayers. Great job by the RGPF, facilitator and participants.

    Reply
  4. Solomon Stafford says:
    7 months ago

    Hats off to you and the ambassadors of the RGPF

    Reply
  5. Solomon Stafford says:
    7 months ago

    Praise God, for He has the answer for change in every man’s life and He is the answer to change lives. God loves us and his grace is sufficient to change is, if we could only surrender to Him.

    Reply

Comment on story Cancel reply

Please enter your valid email address.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Home Sidebar NP 300x250

© NOW Grenada. All Rights Reserved. Published by Aqua Design Inc. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

Copyright NOW Grenada

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

NOW Grenada
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.