The group behind the image reviving efforts in the East Bank Demerara community of Agricola believes it is gaining ground and has already received positive attention from the Guyana Police Force in its efforts, Vice-President of the body Welton Clarke has said.
And although the Agricola Restoration Association (ARA) did not receive a resounding response to its peace march held two weeks ago, the body remains unrelenting in its efforts to sound its call for the community to be free from the stigma and stereotyping to which it has been subjected.
The march saw a small number of persons but according to Clarke it was still successful in getting the message across.
The ARA out of concern at the decline in their community and how crime has transformed it says it intends to change its image from the inside.
Since the march the group was contacted by several senior members of the police force, including “A” Division Commander Leroy Brummell who has policing responsibility for the community.
At that meeting Clarke said the group raised the issue of the mode of arrests and the general modus operandi of the police when they enter the community. Clarke said the meeting ended with the understanding that the police would try to assist in whatever way it can. Asked whether he sensed a genuine concern and empathy for the group’s concerns as it regards the police, he said he will wait to see how far this assistance and co-operation will go and whether the police will follow-up with the group and its ambitions.
He mentioned too that the police officers noted that if there were community members interested in being a part of the police force they would be guided in the right direction.
“So we will watch to see how far this will go and whether they will change strategy when they come into the village and implement a better system so the people would be willing to co-operate with them,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile the body is collaborating with the Youth Leaders Association which had been able to attract youths from the area, as well as churches to implement a number of programmes for the youths.
Only yesterday the ARA received approval to establish an office above the Agricola Post Office at a reasonable cost where it hopes to start introductory Spanish classes and also operate an internet and stationery supplies centre for the community’s children.
Clarke said he believes that in time more persons from the community will become involved since already many are willing to play a part in making the community a better one.
“So I think we are basically on the move… I am seeing hope at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
The group also recently spearheaded a clean-up exercise in two of the community’s main streets and plans to shift the activity to the other streets with assistance from community members.
Heppilena Ferguson)
