THE ORGANISATION that has played an integral part in Jamaican life for 122 years is now working with persons from the inner city to help reduce their involvement in criminal activities.

Colonel Onal Castor, territorial commander of the Salvation Army, said, "The Salvation Army is working with inner-city communities like Hannah Town that are getting involved in crimes and gangs."

According to Castor, apart from training in areas like sewing and bench making, the Salvation Army was also helping citizens from these areas to look for employment.

He said, along with club meetings, participants received spiritual counselling.

Assisting deportees

Castor also said there was a programme in the pipeline to help assist deportees.

The initiative, currently before the relevant bodies for assessment, aims to equip deportees with tailoring, carpentry and electronic repair skills.

He said he hoped to have the programme running in the first quarter of next year.

Castor was speaking after the arrival of the 18th general of the Salvation Army, Commissioner Shaw Clifton, on Tuesday.

Clifton was making his first trip to Jamaica and the Salvation Army held a press conference at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

The Salvation Army head said his visit was to encourage Salvationists and that his organisation was committed to improving the social problems facing the country.

Clifton, who left the island yesterday for Haiti, where he will tackle similar ills, also spoke about human trafficking and the im-portance of family life.

"The Salvation Army is deeply, deeply concerned about the level of human trafficking in the region," said Clifton.

He also thanked those who had contributed to the Salvation Army's Christmas Kettle drive and other fund-raising activities.

He said the recession had hit the Salvation Army and told the gathering, "I salute the public because their giving continues undiminished."