Troubled young people were embraced by the Police Service in an effort to lead them away from a life of crime during a youth extravaganza last Saturday.
Addressing close to 1,500 children from 29 Police Youth Clubs across T&T at Eco Park, St Helena, acting Commissioner of Police Harold Phillip said the broad remit of the Police Youth Club initiative was to engage young people positively, including “at risk” youths between the ages of five-25 years, guiding them to make constructive decisions and positive choices away from a life of crime and criminal behaviour.
He said the youth clubs also focussed on teaching the young people about the ills of bullying and domestic violence. “This quality of engagement provides the opportunity for TTPS to mentor our youths, thereby assisting them to develop their full potential across several facets of their lives, such as academic, sports culture, arts and life skills,” Phillip said.
He promised that TTPS would continue to sustain partnerships with Non-Governmental Organisations to expose young people to programmes which would enhance their conflict resolution skills, ability to communicate with each other and solve problems.
“This in turn will contribute to a reduction in high levels of hastiness, rage, anger and violence, which seems to becoming more and more common in our society. These collaborations will foster and promote solutions which will bring peace and build harmonious relationship,” Phillip said.
He emphasised that values, such as love, discipline, respect, volunteerism, tolerance, self- esteem, hard work, trust, confidence, teamwork, creativity, honesty, character, leadership could assist the police achieve peace and in the long run better communities.
He said the Police Youth Clubs were the pride and joy of the Police Service. He had special welcome to the Police Youth Clubs from South Western, Southern and Central Divisions at the event. “You are all shining beacons of hope, not only for Trinidad and Tobago Police Service but for the nation of Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.
In 1974, there were only two police youth clubs, today it stands 112 strong.
Phillip was optimistic about the future in maintaining vibrant and functional youth clubs in all nine police divisions.
Also attending was the Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon.