Eighty-three West Deme-rara youths never knew they possessed skills until the ‘D’ Division police encouraged them to participate in a six-week training programme that would help to change their lives.
The youths, who were mostly unemployed and early-school leavers, felt a sense of accomplishment as they graduated last Friday from the Leonora Technical & Vocational Skills Training Centre (LTVSTC).
The initiative was part of the C-PETS project – creating positive environments through safer communities and partnership – to keep youths away from crime by empowering them and providing them with life-skills.
Held in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the LTVSTC, the project will see 70 of the youths participating in one-year courses this September while the others will return to their secondary schools.
C-PETS was formed over one year ago as a crime-fighting strategy and divisional commander/ assistant commissioner of police, Stephen Mansell said it is one way of getting the youngsters to desist from idling on street corners.
They would also get the chance to use their energies in a positive way in preparation for the “world of works.”
The youths who were targeted mainly through churches and the communities, hailed from West Bank Demerara villages to Parika, East Bank Essequibo.
At the graduation ceremony, Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud congratulated the youths as well as their parents for “encouraging them to stick through the programme.”
He told the youths that they “live in a world today where competition is far stiffer than a decade or two decades ago and to be competitive you must be multiple-skilled…”
The commissioner said too that the skills they learnt over the period of training would certainly help them throughout their lives. He said that they were not pursing a broad path like they did in secondary school but a path of expertise.
According to him, with every generation there would be victims of crime where “people suffer collateral damage” or organized crimes where “two gangs shoot at each other and innocent passers-by get hurt…”
As a result, members of society “live in fear because when they go to bed at nights they are not sure that they would have peaceful sleep.”
He pointed out that “analysis also shows that unless we engage persons before they become involved in crime the police force would continue running behind criminals.”
The youths are not just exposed to life-skills, but to inter-personal skills as well. The domestic problems they experience are due to a lack of inter-personal skills, where people are not able to control anger.
The commissioner said that “some people respond to the anger with violence instead of talking about it and finding peaceful resolution.”
He pointed out that, society is different from two decades ago, where people never knew about organized crimes that are done as a business.
He explained that with organized crimes, people buy guns and look for idle youth and “engage them, put a gun in their hand and show them money or jewellery and they start killing people and get charge for murder.”
In his address, Assistant Chief Education Officer Patrick Chinedu, told the graduates that the “certificates and recognition that you receive should be a reminder that as long as I am dedicated and committed, I can be whoever I want to be.”
He told them too that “as long as you are determined you can reach your goals. This journey is the first step to take you where you want to be.”
Chinedu assured the youths that Guyana has jobs for them and referred to articles in the newspapers which highlighted that the Guyana Gold Fields has extended its operations.
That was the first programme held at the institution and principal, Eon Nicholson, hopes that it can continue. He was pleased with the youths’ performance and said the courses offer a second chance for a successful life.
He said too that the Industrial Board would be included for the development of youths in the region and that some of the graduates have already registered for the one-year programme.
