Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Nov 18, 2014 News
The Impact Albouystown Project, (IAP) has seen notable success since its launch last April.
The project which was intended to make the neighborhood safer through law enforcement and social interventions is a collaborative exercise between the Guyana Police Force, (GPF) with the religious and social organisations of Albouystown.
At the launch of the event, Commissioner of Police (Ag) Seelall Persaud, noted that the Force has been establishing similar projects in a number of targeted areas, which based on an analysis that youths between the ages of 16 and 30 form the large majority of serious crimes.
Commenting on the IAP success, Director of the Albouystown Masjid, Imam Naeem Muhammad, said that the work has resulted in the drastic reduction of criminal activities through the constant commitment and support from members of the various faith-based groups and the GPF.
He noted that Albouystown has had enormous benefits from the project since unemployment, early termination of educational development among the youths and criminal activities have been dominant issues facing youths in the community.
Mr. Muhammad says that the continued police presence serves as a deterrent for crime and has resulted in the restoration of confidence and trust of residents in the law enforcement agency.
“There has been a reduction in the number of daytime crimes and we are seeing an increase in the influx of persons visiting Albouystown because they feel a lot safer to come into the area,” Muhammad, who is one of the leading faith -based coordinators of the project, added.
He said that there is a renewed sense of cooperation and signs of trust among members of the community and the police. People no longer see the police as a threat but as people who are there to help them.”
The Imam noted, too, that there has been a reduction of gun-related crimes because of the removal of a number of illegal firearms from the neighbourhood.
At the initiation of the project, it was noted that emphasis would be placed on social elements, in which youths of the Albouystown community will have the opportunity to empower themselves through training programmes and sporting activities.
Some of the activities include computer training for job creation, vocational and skills training, literacy training, training in electrical installation and refrigeration, counseling, art, craft, theatre arts, music, steel pan training, involvement in basketball, football, cricket and volleyball.
Imam Muhammad said that the youths in Albouystown have benefitted tremendously from the various types of training courses. He said that a number of persons were able to benefit from the cosmetology exercise, which recently concluded.
“A batch of about 10 individuals recently commenced training in making of concrete blocks… and another group will take part in agricultural training exercise where they will learn about gardening and rearing of cattle and poultry. There will also be training in leather craft, sewing, cookery sessions and so forth.”
As a representative of the IAP, Imam Muhammad has been actively involved distribution of food hampers and other items to members of the community.
He said that the food items are donated to the project by the GPF and other support groups.
“We are encouraged to continue to the work. Given our success with the project in Albouystown we have seen the similar project was developed in other communities such as Beterverwagting/Truimph and Agricola.”
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