The Layou Police Youth Club (PYC) marked its first decade of service on Sunday, January 29 with a ceremony at the Layou Police Station during which 36 new members were enrolled.

Speaking at the event, held under the theme “Building Youths for a Brighter Tomorrow”, Commissioner of Police, Colin John lauded the leadership of sergeant Billy and the Layou Police Youth Club on its achievement.

“Ten years is a significant achievement in any organization,” he said, “ I want to congratulate you on achieving this milestone and those who would be inducted into the club today.”

Commissioner of Police Colin John

The commissioner said that the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) is pointing the members of the youth clubs in the right direction to achieve their full potential. He also highlighted some of the benefits that members of the youth clubs receive.

“We try as far as possible to provide some practical benefits to members of the PYCs. Members are exposed to training and the police summer programmes. We have also assisted members who passed the CPEA examinations with books and other school supplies,” the commissioner noted.

“And there is a direct policy of the police force where members of the PYCs receive preference in joining the RSVGPF so long as they achieve the age and have the requisite qualifications to do so.”

In his closing remarks, the commissioner told the youths, “Your boundaries are set by you. Your ability to live and work in any country depends on your qualifications and skills. Once you are qualified, you can work in Israel, Africa, or anywhere in the world”.

He encouraged the members of the club to have a high self-esteem because the value they place on themselves, is the same value other people would place on them.

Parliamentary Representative for Central Leeward, Orando Brewster also speaking at the ceremony told the young people “Before you build you must first plan and if you fail to plan, you plan to fail”.

The minister with responsibility for youth lauded the PYCs as providing a good foundation for the youths because they can mould them into decent and outstanding persons in the community.

“Just mentioning that you are a part of a Police Youth Club on your resume or job application indicates that you are someone of great character,” he said further.

Brewster also pledged to do everything in his power to support and build the youths for the future.

Shafia London

Barbados country manager for Anheuser Busch InBev, which owns majority shares in St Vincent Brewery Limited, Shafia London-Williams, the feature speaker at the ceremony addressed the youths on what she called Two G’s and Two S’s.

Using the first ‘G’ she told the youths that they must dream to be ‘Great’.

“In being great, you also have to be humble because that can even open up more doors”.

The second ‘G’ means being a ‘Good’ person.

“What do I mean by being good,” London-Williams asked, “In life, you would be faced with many options, and often times, temptations. And you have to make a choice,” she explained.

She shared that as a child she recalled her pastor cautioning that there are two things to think about before deciding to do something.

“If this hits the front page of the newspaper tomorrow, would you be proud or would your family be proud?.

“If the answer is no, it means that is not a good thing to do,” she recounted, pointing out that being good means helping others and not taking advantage of them.

In moving on to the Ss London-Williams, told the audience they have to be ‘Strong’. She told the PYC members “Life is going to throw you some serious big stones and you have to be strong.”

The second ‘S’ is for ‘Special’. “You are special. You are your own person. In a world of over eight billion people, there is only one of you. You are special! There is no one else like you on this earth, even if you are a twin, there will still be a difference. And because you are special, you have to make the most of this gift called life,” she urged.

London-Williams encouraged the young people not to settle for anything less than what they deserve.

Remarks were also delivered by the officer in charge of Police Youth Clubs, assistant superintendent Junior Simmons, and Sergeant Stephen Billy, the national coordinator of Police Youth Clubs.

During the ceremony 36 members were officially enrolled in the club after reciting the honour code and the promise.

Ten food baskets were also handed over to 10 members of the club sponsored by the National Lotteries Authority, East Caribbean Group of Companies, and Nature Care Limited.

Others attending the ceremony included police Divisional Commander, superintendent David Trumpet and Dr. Alston “Becket” Cyrus.