Community group leads push for safer, united Grants Pen

Residents of the Grants Pen community in St Andrew are being encouraged to strengthen ties with the police and take greater ownership of their neighbourhood.

The call has come from the St Andrew North Upliftment Society (SUS Jamaica), which describes itself as a network of “change agents.”

The group is working with the police and other stakeholders to address social issues and promote crime prevention through sport and community engagement.

Earlier today, SUS Jamaica joined members of the St Andrew North Police Division, church representatives, Jamaicans for Justice, and the Social Development Commission for a walkthrough of the community aimed at engaging residents, addressing concerns, and strengthening partnerships.

Superintendent Randy Sweeney, commanding officer of the St Andrew North Police Division, along with Inspector Lewis and members of the Community Safety and Security Branch, were among those in attendance.

Rochelle Gilzene, a member of SUS Jamaica and a longstanding community advocate, said the initiative forms part of a broader effort to transform Grants Pen into a model community.

“The launch was primarily to demonstrate our commitment to community policing with a difference,” Gilzene said.

“Our aim is to have residents feel valued and appreciated and to motivate them to take ownership of their community and play their part in the change that we want to see.”

Gilzene said SUS Jamaica works to bridge trust gaps that sometimes exist between residents and the police.

“In many inner-city communities, people are sometimes branded if they are seen talking to the police,” she said.

“We want to normalise that relationship and show that the police are not only there when there is a problem.”

As part of the initiative, the organisation is using sport as a tool for transformation through a community football and netball competition.

The football tournament, dubbed Battle of the Locations, features teams representing streets and lanes within the community, while the netball competition, Battle of the Zones, groups players by community zones.

Matches are played every Saturday evening and are intended to bring residents together while promoting positive social interaction.

Gilzene told The Gleaner that the community has been very receptive, with hundreds of residents coming out to the games and socials.

She said the initiative is also supported by several community partners and businesses, with Jamaicans for Justice expected to play a role in the programme.

The St Andrew North Police Division is currently one of only two divisions across the island without a murder since the start of the year.

- Andre Williams

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