St. Thomas Police Launch Initiative for Safety of Students

There is increased police presence at the major transportation spaces in Morant Bay where students converge to get to and from school, thanks to a new initiative of the St. Thomas Community Safety and Security Unit (CSSU).

The initiative, dubbed ‘Operation Nuh Linga’, was launched in January with the aims of reducing fights in the Morant Bay space by students, ensuring that students get to school safely and on time, and raising parents’ awareness of the activities of their children in the busy town of Morant Bay.

The operation was conceptualised by Corporal Dwight Henry of the CSSU.

Speaking with JIS News, Constable Roger Douglas, who is a member of the Unit, said, “We go out at the bus parks each morning and we try and get these children to school – those who are loitering or lingering in the Morant Bay space.”

He reported that, so far, the initiative has been meeting its objectives, with a significant reduction in fights by students in the parish capital.

The Constable is appealing to parents to help the police in their mission by playing a more vigilant role in the lives of their children.

“Some of them (parents) don’t know where their children are in the mornings or in the afternoons when they leave school. Sometimes we call them, they are not available. When we search these student and we make contact with the parents, they have no clue that their child is involved or carrying… instruments,” Constable Douglas said.

“What we are trying to do is tell the parents to check their bags and their books, everything that they can check when their children come home from school,” he added.