Hanover Divisional Police Youth Club Council shows appreciation to members

Western Bureau:

Forty-three persons, who have contributed positively to the Police Youth Club (PYC) movement in Hanover, were presented with certificates of participation and other gifts during the Hanover Divisional PYC Council appreciation church service, held recently at the Rejoin Seventh-day Adventist Church in Hanover.

With Ricardo Fairman, the national PYC president, being a member of the Rejoin PYC, additional attention was brought to the appreciation church service with PYC members from across the parish and visiting members from Westmoreland and senior and junior members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

In his address, Superintendent Andrew Nish, the police commander for Hanover, highlighted the fact that the PYC movement in Hanover started some 70 years ago, and has been assisting young people from across the parish to choose the right path in life since then.

“It all began in 1954 when the first PYC was formed in the small community of Sandy Bay by one Basil Ferguson, who was a social worker and secretary of the Hanover Youth Council. He was proudly assisted by Corporal Everald Mathews, who was stationed at the Sandy Bay Police Station. I can safely say that last year, we proudly celebrated 70 years of this noble movement, which has been instrumental in saving the lives of countless young people from across our division,” said Nish.

Nish also made special mention of the Green Island, Sandy Bay, Rejoin, and Beulaland PYCs, noting their longevity and their impact on the respective communities.

“Our outreach efforts have also been extended to the Chester Castle and Cauldwell communities, where we have had sensitising meetings to promote community engagement and social development, and soon, they will be on board,” said Nish. “We are also excited to announce plans to conduct sensitisation meetings at Hopewell High School and Rhodes Hall High School as we continue to expand our outreach programme across the length and breadth of the parish to include the schools.”

Fire safety workshop

Nish further spoke about a partnership project between the Jamaica Fire Brigade Hanover Division and the Green Island Police Youth Club, which took place over a two-day period in 2024, during which several youngsters from the Green Island police area were trained as fire wardens.

“Together, we hosted a two-day fire safety workshop, which equipped 31 youngsters from Green Island with skills and knowledge to become fully certified community fire-safety wardens,” he explained.

Nish said the fire-safety project was just one example of the many workshops and initiatives that were undertaken by the PYC members across Hanover while describing the dedication and commitment to community service exhibited by the PYC members as “truly inspiring”.

“As we move forward, we remain steadfast in our mission to empower young people, foster community engagement, and promote social cohesion, and there is no better way to do this than to show appreciation such as with this church service being held under the theme ‘Planting Seeds of Hope, Nurturing Youths Today for a Better Tomorrow,” said Nish. “Empowered youths are the catalyst for positive change. You are the canvas upon which a masterpiece of tomorrow is painted, and with fire within your hearts, you will light the path for a brighter future.”

The Green Island Police Youth Club was recognised and awarded as the most outstanding club for 2024, while Roy Morris, of the Sandy Bay PYC; Euphemia Duncan, of Rejoin PYC; Dahlia Mannings of Green Island PYC; and Kyrese Dunbar, of Beulaland PYC, were recognised and awarded for their outstanding service for their respective clubs. Constable Monique Bartley, of the JCF Community Safety and Security Branch and who is stationed at the Hopewell Police Station, was recognised for her inspiring and committed service to the PYC movement.

editorial@gleanerjm.com