210 Police Officers Receive Leadership Training From Sandals Corporate University

Some 210 high ranking members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in the Area One police division, have received certificates after completing the pilot phase of Sandals Corporate University’s (SCU) Leadership Training Initiative.

The Area One police division comprises Trelawny, St. James, Hanover, and Westmoreland.

The course is a collaboration between the two entities and provided members of the force with leadership training. It also served to sensitize officers about their contribution to the success of the tourism industry and the island’s economy.

During the presentation ceremony held on Thursday (March 13) at Sandals Montego Bay in St. James, Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang said the certification of the police officers, is symbolic of the new direction of the police force in Jamaica.

“Training the police officers in leadership and the features that I’ve seen identified [in the course] are important in ensuring we have a police force that can do its job and be effective and professional,” he stated.

“I think this has been part of the objective of the government and this present Commissioner of Police [Dr. Kevin Blake], has started along those lines, and I think coming to Sandals is like taking us to the next level, and we look forward to that partnership continuing,” Dr. Chang added.

For his part, Dr. Blake stated that the JCF’s collaboration with SCU and key stakeholders signifies that there is a shared vision.

“This initiative is training leaders and embedding in each of us the understanding that leadership comes with the responsibility of forging and sustaining meaningful partnerships. It is about stakeholder engagement, a strategic priority that has guided us throughout our service,” he stated.

“In a world where challenges are multifaceted and often interconnected, our strength lies in the power of partnership. Whether it is engaging with industry leaders, community representatives or government stakeholders, every dialogue and every joint effort fortifies the social fabric of our nation,” Dr. Blake added.

The Commissioner further stated that “the achievements we celebrate today are the results of shared commitment to excellence. They are proof that when we invest in leadership and foster collaboration, the outcomes benefit not only the individuals directly involved but the entire community”.

SCU certifies Sandals Resorts International (SRI) staff members currently without formal academic qualifications and provides qualified team members with an avenue to advance their education.

Through partnerships with internationally recognized universities, professional organizations and local education institutions, the SCU offers programmes that range from basic hospitality-specific training, to putting them on a learning pathway that can ultimately lead to a masters and/or doctoral degrees.

In an interview with JIS News, Senior Corporate Director at SCU, Dr. Luz Longsworth, said there is a possibility that the programme will be expanded.

“So, we trained 210 of the officers of Area One. Our commitment was to train all the senior officers, so we have another 190 to train, but the bigger picture is to then train the front line, the rank-and-file officers, the men and women who are out there every day, and so that’s where the expansion will come,” Dr. Longsworth informed.