Top Priority hosts joint security training conference
The training course was dubbed ‘Operation Cooperation – Bridging the Gap’ and ended on March 28, 2013. The course was held in the conference room of the Maria's By The Sea Hotel.
“I realised that we have a disciplinary/respect situation in the Territory, more so within our schools,” said Head of Top Priority Mr Lesmore Smith.
He disclosed that as a security provider for the Elmore Stoutt High School, he was looking into ways of coming together to “make things happen in a better way in the interest of all the children.”
Mr Smith told this news site that he visited New Jersey in February to meet with Mr Lou Jordan, the Security Director of the School District in Asbury, New Jersey. He was later invited to visit a number of schools in the district where he had an opportunity to speak with the various security services and teachers as well as guidance counsellors.
“What they have showed me and what I have gathered from them, is that as long as you put together a structure, a well-disciplined structure, including training for the security, the teachers and janitors and also extend it to the parents, the children would be able to have role models where they can follow and foster and develop [good habits],” Smith disclosed.
Speaking during the closing ceremony, outgoing Police Commissioner Mr Reynell Frazer, said that he was overwhelmed at the response to the course. “I’ve been driving around in the community and I’ve seen a change… these gang signs that they had all over the place, I personally was involved in eradicating some of it, going out there with my paint and brush and roller and painting some of these signs out,” Frazer expressed.
He added, “I’m happy to say that Mr Smith has taken this forward, using his own initiative again, based on what was done in the past and I am pleased. I have to congratulate you Mr Smith for making this happen.”
Frazer also expressed hope that the current acting Commissioner, Mr David Morris would take the reins of the Police Force once he officially retires on June 30, 2013.
“What we are doing here today,” Frazer continued, “it’s about crime and security and certainly, if we can get in the minds and hearts of these young children, particularly our young men… it will be an ease for you as law enforcement officers whether in the private sector or the public sector and I think it’s a good start that we have made here.”
The Top Priority Head also stated that he cared very much about the safety of children in the Territory especially given the high levels of crime and violence that they had to deal with on a daily basis.
“I put on this whole operation to ensure that… we were able to have joined these teams… I’m happy to have had the Police, the Social Development Guidance Counsellors both from Virgin Gorda and Tortola,” he added.
The training was provided by a group of presenters from New Jersey including Mr Lou Jordan Mr Tyrone McAllister, Mr Lorne Pierce and Shante James among others. “It was a variety of different facilitators from different areas,” Smith noted. It included Police, a Principal and Guidance Counsellor. There was also a Police officer, Roy Chesterfield, from St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands that participated in the training course as well. Chesterfield specialises in gang and other hate related crimes. Local Customs and Immigration Officers were also involved in the training course.
Persons received a certificate of participation at the end of the programme as well as special awards for their various roles.
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