MONTEGO BAY, St James — The sound of children’s laughter as they played on the grounds of Granville Primary School while their parents lounged on benches in the shade were in stark contrast to the tension and protests that rocked the community in May after two fatal police shootings.

They were at the school for a back-to-school treat hosted by the St James Police Division of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

“This initiative here today is just a small part of collectively engaging the community here in Granville,” operations officer for the division, Deputy Superintendent Rodrick Reid told the
Jamaica Observer on Saturday.

He said there have been a number of community meetings and residents have been receptive as his team members engage with them and try to understand their perspective. These efforts are paired with patrol cops who routinely wear body cameras as another brick in the building of trust.

“We are not where we want it to be, we are not there as yet, but we are working collectively – both the police and the citizens – in getting right back to that point where we had a wholesome interaction,” said Reid.

During the treat on Saturday, students were provided with books, bags, pencils, and other school supplies as well as refreshments courtesy of the police, community resident Alicia Walker, and sponsorship from the Police Cooperative Credit Union and Guardian Life.

Students wait patiently at a police-coordinated back-to-school treat in Granville, St James, on Saturday.

“We have some goodies for them, school supplies, and we intend to impact somewhere between 100 and 120 young residents,” DSP Reid said.

“We know that it is a small token, [but] it goes a long way in assisting them with this new upcoming school year, and so we want to give back to the community,” he added.

Parents and community members praised the initiative.

“It’s a great feeling, trust me, it’s good. This is a good move in building back the trust; mi like that,” said Olivia Dunn.

She said the tension in May had negatively impacted three of her children. To help repair the damage, she brought them out for the treat.

“Mi no like when the foolishness go on still, it worry me and it worry the kids because them feel a way too, them get timid when certain things happen,” she remarked.

Refreshments are on hand for the students during Saturday’s police-coordinated back-to-school treat in Granville, St James.

“I like when togetherness happen and everybody happy and feel good, and mi like peace,” Dunn said.

Fellow resident Kevesha Morrison said the event sent an important message that goes well beyond their community.

“We want to show the wider Jamaica that the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Granville community is not at war, we are at peace,” she said.

“Actually having this shows that, yes, they care about us and, yes, we want them to be a part of us because anything we do we have to do it with the law,” Morrison added.

She said they have been working with the police on the event for a while and were glad it turned out well.

“For the past few months we have been having a discussion in regards to what we would do, in regards to the treat…for them to come out and show that they are going to give back to the community of Granville, building back Granville, building back rapport with the community members of Granville. It is a great thing,” said Morrison.