ST JAMES, Jamaica – The St James Community Safety and Security Branch (CSSB) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force will be embarking on a week of activities for the period May 22-28, in celebration of Child’s Month, using the theme: “The Police and Community Working in Partnership for the Safety and Security of our Children”.

“The police acknowledge and embrace the notion that ‘it is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men,’ therefore this venture is a proactive approach, and is one of many initiatives that will be undertaken by the team to secure and cement a positive relationship with children who are the future of St James,” a release from the St James CSSB said.

“It is also an effort to undermine crime and criminality in the parish through social intervention.”

The activities will commence with a church service at the Mount Salem Open Bible Church in St James on Sunday, where there will be an official inauguration of the Police Supervised Curfew Initiative that will see children in the communities of the parish closely monitored to ensure that they are off the streets by 9:00 pm.

On Labour Day, May 23, the cell-area at the Montego Bay lock-ups at 14 Barnett Street will get a face-lift.

“The team will not only be painting the area, but will also be interacting with the prisoners on the Parenting Policy and the Child Care and Protection Act. The purpose of this interaction is to impress upon them the importance of proper parenting, despite them being incarcerated and to challenge them to do everything in their power to influence and encourage their children not to walk the path of criminality and compromise their freedom,” said the release.

A health fair will follow on Tuesday at the Type Five Child Guidance Clinic in Montego Bay, where mothers will be engaged on the Parenting Policy, The Child Care and Protection Act, as well as the rights of a child.

“These mothers will be challenged to raise and nurture winners and not criminals in these sessions. Mothers will also be treated with special packages and there will be a question and answer session,” according to the St James CSSB.

Other activities planned include: a treat for students at the Niagara Primary School in deep rural St James on Wednesday; counselling sessions at the Glendevon Primary and Junior High, as well as the Salt Spring Primary and Infant on Thursday, and a Book Fair, Exhibition and Lunch hour Concert at Sam Sharpe Square on Friday.

The week of activities conclude on Saturday with an event at the Flanker Seventh-day Adventist Church, where the Adventist Youths (AY) in collaboration with the police will host a programme dubbed “Real Fathers are Real Men”.

Mark Cummings