COP reiterates need for disciplined society

Commissioner of Police Keith Miller is reiterating the need for discipline in the society, expressing that this can be successfully achieved by positively nurturing the youth of St Vincent and the Grenadines.{{more}}

Miller, delivering remarks at the official launch of the South Western Zone Police Youth Clubs on Sunday, February 17, 2013, at the Layou Hard Court, challenged members of the Police Youth Clubs to allow discipline to be their hallmark in life.

“You need discipline to face life’s challenges. You need to include it in your general characteristics, in your deportment, in your conduct, and in the way you carry yourself,” said Miller, as he encouraged the youth to also put it into their literacy.

“Always let discipline be your watchword,” said Miller.

Miller used the opportunity to welcome the 60 new members of the Barrouallie and Layou Police Youth Clubs, the two groups comprising the South Western Police Youth Clubs, to the family of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force.

The Commissioner also challenged parents to instil discipline in their children.

“I am praying to see the day when we will have that community spiritedness, when members of the public can correct a child who is doing wrong and then let the parent of the child know that you saw him or her doing something that is wrong and you corrected the child. Let us be each other’s keeper,” said Miller.

Commissioner Miller encouraged the youth in the audience to emulate Linton Squires, a 19-year-old first year student of the St.Vincent and the Grenadines Community College Division of Technical and Vocational Education, who has refused to be defeated by the financial challenges that is facing his family. Squires has been heard blowing several melodious songs on his trumpet under the gallery of the Ministerial Building, Kingstown, in an effort to raise funds to finance his schooling.

Miller praised the Vincentian Newspaper and the Agency for Public Information (API) for bringing the young man’s plight to light. The Commissioner disclosed that on Friday, February 22, he will be asking the members of the Police Officer Corp to make a contribution to assist Squires.

Area Representative, Maxwell Charles, delivering the feature address, asked the members of the Police Youth Clubs to never disappoint the Police and their families. He also encouraged them to develop self respect and a love for God.

“Cherish and nurture yourself, respect others, learn to resist what is wrong and degrading,” said Charles as he appealed to the youth.

He lauded the Government of St.Vincent and the Grenadines as well as the Royal St.Vincent and the Grenadines for leading the intervention programmes in keeping the youth on a positive path.

In her remarks, National Co-ordinator of Police Youth Clubs, Cecile McMaster, stated that Police Youth Clubs were introduced in the Royal St.Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force in September 2000, through the efforts of Arden Tannis, now retired Inspector of Police.

She said in 2009, Commissioner of Police, Keith Miller, gave directives to a committee comprising senior members of the Police Force to oversee the restructuring of the Police Youth Clubs. McMaster said this led to the formulation of an official policy to govern the affairs to Police Youth Clubs in the various Police Districts.

To date, there are 21 Police Youth Clubs across the country and 16 have been officially launched.