The Custos of Manchester has initiated

several intervention and outreach programmes to help students remain in school;

establish a counselling helpline, and to offer help in crime prevention.

Custos Garfield Green explained that he

wants to ensure that, where possible, resources are pooled for the prevention

of social ills in the parish, help in the maintenance of police stations, and

to ensure that the education of children is not disrupted due to financial

challenges faced by parents.

He related to JIS News, recently, a

13-year-old male student was out of school for a few months, his office got the

information, and they moved quickly to ascertain the reasons behind the child

not attending school and got him placed in a high school in the parish.

Students in School programme

“The ‘Students in School Initiative’ is

intended to assist children in whatever way necessary. It might be that they

don’t have lunch, and there may be transport and uniform issues. We try to meet

the needs, so that they get into school and they stay in school,” Custos Green said.

Part of the programme, Green continued, is

to get students to be more involved in community and civic activities, thereby

instilling in them, from an early age, civic pride, and to help lessen the

spread of anti-social cultures.

Another of the initiatives is the

Counselling Helpline to prevent domestic violence and ease the burden faced by

persons who experience trying situations as well as those who need mediators to

resolve conflicts.

Persons needing the service can telephone

(876) 579-7112.

“We offer the services through the police,

in the schools, and in the communities. If the police have a case working on

and they were to see the need for mediation or counselling, then we will

provide a mediator or a counsellor to help,” he added.

He pointed out that while the outreach

programme is managed by the ‘Friends’ of the Custos, and his office coordinates

calls from persons who need the services, they ensure that trained

professionals handle the cases, and no file is created on the individuals being

helped, because they operate under strict confidentiality.

“After the initial call, we find a

counsellor for you, or the mediator, then it is between you and them. These

persons are professionals that we have on board. They are trained and

certified,” the custos assured, adding that the services will be expanded

shortly, as more reputable persons want to offer their time and skills.

“It will not be open to everyone to offer

the service; you have to possess some level of training in that professional

area,” Green said, underscoring that “once we put persons on to them, the only

thing that we would be interested in, is that it is working.”

‘Many issues, but with purpose we can address them’

The new Custos acknowledges that there are

many issues to be addressed, such as family conflicts and differences with

other community members.

“Whatever is preventing anyone from

achieving their God-given potential, we are here to help, and our services are

through counselling, advice and mediation. We want them to call the office of

the Custos. We will reach out to you, and we will help,” he told JIS News.

The custos informed that in one week they

were able to raise $1.5 million, which was used to effect repairs to police

vehicles in the parish.

He added that their support to the police

also includes minor repairs to stations, and encouraging service providers to

offer discounts on items for the work of the lawmen.

Green was sworn into office as Custos of

Manchester in September. He is a well-known figure in the business community of

central Jamaica, and served as President of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce

for three years, prior to his appointment as Custos of the parish.

As Custos of Manchester, Green is the representative of the Governor-General in the parish. As part of his responsibilities, he serves as Chief Magistrate for the parish, ensuring that there are sufficient Justices of the Peace (JPs) to serve the Lay Magistrate’s Court and communities throughout Manchester.

— JIS