By Noel Thompson, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
THE BLACK River Police had its Open House activity across the parish yesterday and opened their doors to residents to share in an educational tour of the buildings and to have interaction with police personnel.
Inspector Clyde Ramsay, the officer in charge of the St. Elizabeth Police Community Relations Department, said yesterday's turnout by citizens was a success.
Several students from the Logwood Basic, St. John's Kindergarten, the Black River Primary and Newell High Schools journeyed to the station to share in the day's activities with the police.
Four police stations in the parish, namely Nain, Siloah, Santa Cruz and Lacovia had similar exercises yesterday simultaneously with the headquarters in Black River. "Because of the fact that some of the other stations house court houses, and most of the police personnel attached to others were in court yesterday, they will hold their activities today and Wednesday," Inspector Ramsay told The Gleaner.
Children from the Logwood and the St. John's Basic Schools were in for a treat when Inspector Anthony Currie, led them in Scout songs and nursery rhymes such as There Was Lice Eating Out the Rice in the Quartermaster's Store. This had the children in stitches. "The children were quite receptive and participated wholeheartedly," Inspector Currie said.
He is the officer in charge of detention and courts and firearms training, first aid training and the chief drill instructor for all official parades in the parish, as well as the instructor of the public order squad, which handles civil disturbances in St. Elizabeth.
"Today we will be visiting the Mannings Boys Home, located in Southfield. There are over 30 boys there, some of whom are orphans and others are homeless. They were not placed there necessarily because they had run afoul of the law. We will be having rap sessions and playing games with them. At the end of the day, we will be presenting them with gifts," Inspector Ramsay said.
He said come Wednesday, his department would be involved in a work day session at the Barbary Basic and Round Hill Basic schools. On that same day, they will also visit clients at the Santa Cruz Infirmary to care for them.
On Thursday, there will be a public forum at the Comfort Villa Guest House at Junction. This will commence at 6:00 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Power 106 FM. The theme will be "Police and Community in Partnership for A Safe Jamaica."
Friday will see them hosting the Clarendon Police in the Elton Cawley Area Three Domino Competition. This is scheduled to kick-off at 2:00 p.m. at the Lluana Restaurant and Club, which is on the outskirts of Black River.
This will be followed by an open air Evangelical Service, which will be hosted by 'Cops for Christ' (the Christian Organisation of Police) at 6:00 p.m. at the Santa Cruz Bus Park.
On Saturday, there will be a Community Fun Day at Treasure Beach. This will include games such as cricket, football, basketball, dominoes, among others, Inspector Ramsay told The Gleaner.
