PRESS RELEASE – Efforts to deal with delinquency in schools are being strengthened, as the Ministry of Education presented laptops to the Community Relations Branch of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, in a handover ceremony on Monday August 22nd, 2016, at the offices of the Ministry.
The laptops are expected to assist with conducting research and educating young delinquents in various schools island-wide.
Minister for Education Hon. Dr. Gale Rigobert said she is extremely pleased with the collaboration between the Ministry and the Community Relations Branch.
“I trust that with these additional tools you can enhance our levels of efficiency and broaden your intervention, as we continue to partner to bring delinquencies in schools under control. I trust that the area of suspension that we continue to collaborate on, will receive not only additional resources in terms of hardware, but also in terms of technical assistance,” the Minister said in her remarks at the handover ceremony.
Minister for Home Affairs, Justice and National Security Sen. Hon. Hermangild Francis expressed appreciation for the donation, which he said, will assist in the work of the Communications Branch of the Police Force with Saint Lucian youth, particularly within schools on the island.
“Our youth are in a crisis, and it is good that we have a department in the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force that deals with these very volatile youngsters. It is important when dealing with crime situations, to deal with it in a holistic way, and we need to start with our young people. So having said that, I want to thank the minister and her staff for so kindly and graciously giving us the eight laptops so that we can enhance our work,” said the Home Affairs Minister.
Sen. Francis believes it is of utmost importance to work with the youth at an early stage of their lives, in order to ensure they don’t become problems for society at later periods in their development.