PM Spencer reveals slate of social initiatives
Wednesday March 01 2006
Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer has revealed plans to introduce national programmes designed to reduce crime and address the problems that are currently plaguing the youth of the nation.
The prime minister announced these initiatives at the culmination of the Gray’s Farm Pathfinders “March Against Violence” last Sunday. He commended the group for taking the lead against the negative influences affecting youth.
Building on their stance, the PM said he will be assembling members of the churches and community groups in an effort to develop solutions that will benefit the youth and would be introducing several government programmes, which will also help.
The Integrated Methods for the Prevention of Addiction in Children and Teens (IMPACT) will provide educational support groups to teen parents in order to build parenting skills and teach participants how to develop and maintain healthy lifestyles for themselves and their children.
Families Organised for Coping Under Stress (FOCUS) will be designed to prevent delinquency, substance abuse and gang activity by providing advocates who direct families and youth to appropriate community and national services. This programme will work closely with the National Task Force on Youth Development.
Mr. Spencer said it is also government’s intention to engage the police force to fight crime through building police-community relations through two of its own programmes.
The public education programme will educate community members about crime prevention and personal safety to reduce the likelihood of them becoming victims of crime.
The children’s educational programme will have as its main objective to minimise the chances of children becoming victims of crime through education and awareness. A uniformed police officer will be made available to speak to children in schools and other settings when requested.
The prime minister and the area parliamentary representative also assured the residents of Gray’s Farm that “Knuckle Block”, a place that has caused concern to the community because of drug distribution, will no longer be a problem for them.
He said the government has received the plans for the development of the area into a multi-functional community centre that will provide healthy activities for young people.
The PM said as soon as the funding arrangement is complete, they will move to demolish that current facility and commence construction immediately.
© SUN Printing & Publishing LTD 2003-2004. All Rights Reserved.
