Crime prevention requires a collective effort, says Minister of State in the Office of the Attorney General with responsibility for Crime Prevention, Corey Lane, who called on Barbadians to play their part in this endeavour.
Mr. Lane expressed this view when he addressed the National Peace Program’s (NPP) Elevate the Peace Community Pop-Up and Cook Off Challenge, at Wotton Hard Court, Christ Church, on Saturday evening.
He told his audience: “This effort of crime prevention continues to be…a whole of Government, a whole of nation, and a whole of Barbados effort. I will continue to call on every segment of society to let us join hands to ensure that this beautiful paradise island of Barbados remains a beautiful paradise island….”
During his remarks, the Minister of State announced that Tyrel Belgrave and Joel Patrick were the Gaining Stripes recipients for their selfless work. Tyrel started to clean up the Deacons Road area, and over time, several people joined him, and they are now committed to keeping that neighbourhood clean. They have even started an Adventure Club.
Joel worked tirelessly to stop a fire from spreading in the densely populated area of Mason Hall Street, The City, and only one house was destroyed in the blaze.
In stressing the importance of the Gaining Stripe award, Mr. Lane continued: “There are many people out there who are doing things that deserve…positive stripes…. So, the National Peace Program is committed to giving Barbadians stripes for doing positive things.”
He also announced the first Peace Pioneers – Dyonte “small man” Glasgow and Kadarius Allen, and Shine Role Models – Everton Gilkes and Adrian Sealy.
In giving the rationale for the Shine Role Models, Minister Lane said: “Too often we have taken popular people in society and try to make them into role models…. I continue to think that we must take role models and make them popular people in this society.
“And that is what Shine Role Models is about – identifying people doing phenomenal work in the community and being role models to our young people and giving them a tangible reward.”
He stressed that the NPP’s role is to promote peace through social innovation, but the Program cannot do it alone, and underscored the importance of the Shine Role Models, Peace Pioneers and Gaining Stripes recipients working with NPP.