Almost two decades after its birth the Outreach Pro-gramme to the Children of Rosemary Lane has become a youth group and this is a solid part of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Commissioner of Police Henry Greene said yesterday.
The Criminal Investiga-tion Department (CID) in partnership with the Brethren Church of Guyana held the annual Christmas lunch to mark the end of a year of activities to reach out to depressed communities, in particular depressed areas like Rosemary Lane.
Greene, during a brief address, said that the force has been moving towards social intervention for years as a means of crime prevention.
The aim, he stated, is to encourage positive lifestyles among youths and also to motivate young men and women to join the GPF.
The outreach programme, he explained, started in the 1990s and initially targeted children in “depressed” areas. After more than 19 years, Greene said, the fact that the programme still exists attests to the fact that systems are still in place and they are functioning.
This youth club, he charged members and supporters, must enter sporting, academic and other activities and build a name with the aim of expanding into other communities. GPF, he promised, will support the group.
The training, especially the discipline, which will be available to young people, he said, is a definite way to shape their lives and give them hope for the future.
Greene also pledged a donation of $300,000, compliments of GPF, to give the club a start.
During yesterday’s activities GPF also presented more than 100 children with gifts and handed over monetary prizes to several for involvement and outstanding performance in the programme’s activities throughout this year.
