THE POLICE Community Relations Division, which opened a $2-million sporting complex for residents in Payne Avenue in Kingston a year ago, returned Thursday, New Year's Day, to entertain children and host sports competitions inside the
complex.
Close to 150 children rode Ferris wheels, ate hot meals, and accepted back to school gifts, and toys, while older residents competed for trophies in football, basketball and netball games.
"The event is a continuation of efforts to establish peace in the area," said Senior Superintendent Lindberg Simpson, who heads the Police Community Relations Branch on Ruthven Road.
"It was necessary to come back here after one year," added Deputy Commissioner, Jevene Bent.
ONE OF SEVERAL PROJECTS
The complex, consisting of basketball and netball courts and a football field, is one of several projects being carried out under a major Anti-Crime Social Intervention Programme that aims to reduce crime and build friendly relationships between community members and the police.
The programme also includes refurbishing basic schools and it has been extended to other volatile areas such as Hannah Town, Denham Town, Parade Gardens and August Town.
"A recent outbreak of violence in Mountain View also caused us to extend the programme in that area," said SSP Simpson, while Deputy Commissioner Bent told JIS News that there were plans to begin work in three communities in St. James this year.
Senior Superintendent Simpson said that so far, the efforts to bring peace to the area have been successful and "the relationship has grown so well over the past year and we want to expand on that."
Mayor of Kingston, Desmond McKenzie, who addressed the residents, lauded the improvements under the anti-crime programme. "In times past I could only drive through (here), so I'm honoured to be here," he said. He commended the residents and encouraged them to continue working closely with the police.
Linval Annakie, a resident of the community and the president of the Delacree Pen Development Council, said the opening of the facility last year and the continued police presence in the area have helped to transform the Payne Avenue community.
"There is a big improvement because of the presence of the police," he said. "Once people were afraid to come out. When we had meetings, we had to abort them because of the gunshots. (Now) we see where we are getting a lot of things done to develop the community and we have a lot of small projects coming on stream."
The complex is still not complete. A spectator's pavilion and bathroom facilities are to be added within a few weeks.
