With the recent decision to restructure the Police Youth Clubs in St Vincent and the Grenadines, Commissioner of Police Keith Miller has said that he expects every police officer to be part and parcel of the clubs.{{more}}

At the launch of the restructured clubs at the Old Montrose Police Station on Tuesday, April 20, Miller said that in the past, the clubs operated on an “ad-hoc” basis and that they are moving towards changing that. The top cop also mentioned that only a few officers had taken up the challenge to start police youth clubs.

“To me, that is unsatisfactory. It should be the responsibility of every police man and woman to be part of our police youth clubs,” Miller stated.

Efforts are being made to have a permanent structure in place in which the youth clubs will be a fixed part of the police organisation. “Our role is not only to ensure law and order is enforced, but we have to help with the development of our young people,” Miller said.

Miller also made an announcement that Inspector Arden Tannis will serve as the national coordinator for police youth clubs. Tannis will work along with the National Commission of Crime Prevention and similar organisations.

At present, there are four functioning police youth clubs, including the communities of Barrouallie, Calliaqua, Petit Bordel and Chateubelair.

Delivering brief remarks, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security Godfred Pompey stated that efforts are already being made to establish six more clubs in the communities of Sandy Bay, Mesopotamia, Byera, Lowmans Windward, Ottley Hall and Layou.

Pompey noted that the main objective of the programme is to attract and develop the youth throughout the country.(KW)