Guanaboa Vale Police Station Conducts Outreach Initiative

In recognition of Child Month, the Guanaboa Vale Police Station conducted a special outreach initiative on May 29, to impact the lives of students in the community positively.

The activity benefited six students, three boys and three girls, from the following primary schools, Guanaboa Vale Primary School, Kitson Town Primary School and Paul Mountain Primary School.

The initiative reflected this year’s Child Month theme ‘Prioritise Our Children’s Mental Health: Strong Minds, Safer Future’, which highlighted the importance of nurturing emotional resilience and creating safe, supportive environments for Jamaica’s children.

Through the awards programme, the police sought to recognise exemplary students, while encouraging their peers to strive for excellence in academics, behaviour and personal development.

Station Manager at the Guanaboa Vale Police Station, Sergeant Navelette Davis-Leachman, told the students that the awards were designed to demonstrate that children are valued members of society and important stakeholders in their communities.

She emphasised that although not every student could receive a prize, the initiative was intended to inspire young people to continue working hard as they progress through their educational journey.

Sergeant Davis-Leachman also encouraged the students to maintain positive relationships with the police and to seek assistance whenever necessary.

She urged those who were not selected this year, to continue striving for excellence, noting that future opportunities would arise for them to be recognised.

At Guanaboa Vale Primary School, top girl awardee Takeymah Williams expressed gratitude for the recognition.

The aspiring paediatrician said she was pleased to receive the award and planned to cherish it as a reminder of her accomplishments during primary school. Takeymah, who hopes to attend St. Jago High School, thanked the police officers for their thoughtful gesture.

Top boy recipient, Javaughn Davis also shared his excitement, explaining that dedication to his schoolwork and consistently doing his best contributed to his success. Confident about his future, Javaughn said he hopes to attend Campion College and encouraged other students to work hard and remain focused on their goals.

At Paul Mountain Primary and Infant School, Keshawn Brown described the award as a “great” achievement and credited his discipline, good behaviour and commitment to academic excellence for earning the recognition.

Fellow awardee Kedija Chatrie, said receiving the award gave her a wonderful feeling and that she intended to proudly show her certificate and gifts to her friends. She believes the recognition demonstrates that discipline and positive conduct bring meaningful rewards.

The celebrations continued at Kitson Town Primary School, where top girl Tisha-Lee Whittle was recognised for her hard work and exemplary behaviour. She described feeling proud and excited to receive the award and expressed confidence in her goal of attending St. Jago High School.

Tisha-Lee, who dreams of becoming either a doctor or a teacher, thanked the officers from the Guanaboa Vale Police Station for their support and encouraged other students to work hard, be industrious and conduct themselves appropriately.

Top boy, Sage Dennis was equally surprised and delighted by the recognition. He said the award came unexpectedly and motivated him to continue pushing through challenges.

He advised fellow students to remain focused on their studies and avoid distractions, adding that hard work and determination are key ingredients for success. The ambitious youngster hopes to become a footballer and a car engineer in the future.

Parents also welcomed the initiative and praised the police for investing in the development of children.

Sheryl Roberts, whose daughter received an award, recalled her excitement after receiving a call from the school informing her of the recognition. She described herself and her daughter as overwhelmed with joy and expressed appreciation to the police, teachers and school community for acknowledging students’ efforts.

Another parent, Patricia Dennis said she was pleasantly surprised when her son arrived home eager to share the news and display his gifts. She noted that the recognition would further motivate him, describing him as a competitive child who enjoys achieving goals.

The parent also commended the police for demonstrating that their role extended beyond crime fighting, to building positive relationships within communities and encouraging young people to make good choices.

School administrators also lauded the programme, describing it as a meaningful form of encouragement for students.

Principal of Guanaboa Vale Primary School, Tracey-Ann Brown, said she was delighted that the students hard work had been recognised. She noted that the awards would empower recipients to continue striving for success and serve as a reminder that dedication often yields positive results.

Principal of Paul Mountain Primary and Infant School, Sheryl Thomas-Lawes, said she was overwhelmed with gratitude and praised the officers for identifying a creative way to motivate children.

Meanwhile, Principal of Kitson Town Primary School, Dr. Donna Mitchell-Jarrett, described the initiative as an excellent example of community partnership. She said it reinforced the idea that raising children requires the collective effort of schools, families and community stakeholders.