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Operation Future Launched

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
May 17, 2012 (SKNIS)

Students of the Tyrell Williams Primary School in Old Road have committed to become active agents in a bid to stop bullying and establish schools as a safe zone.

On Tuesday, Constable Lauston Percival of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and Dan MacMullin, both of Operation Future, facilitated a 45-minute interactive session to the young people outlining what is bullying, the varying types, ways it is carried out and how to react if one is a victim of bullying, or witnesses the act.

Sixth graders Melissa Drew and Lufkin Foster were enthused by the presentation and each said they learned a lot.

The message was especially potent to Lufkin. “I was bullied already,” he admitted, recounting a past experience at a summer camp. If such a situation was to occur again, fighting back or keeping the incident private is not an option. “I will walk away and tell an (adult),” he stated.

Melissa, who is president of the student council, highlighted the practical aspects displayed on power point and demonstrated through role play. She stated that generally, the students were committed to work with teachers and Operation Future members to protect the school environment.

Principal Terrence Edwards told SKNIS that Operation Future has had a productive relationship with the school and that while there are not many reports of bullying it was important to tackle the issue. The head teacher also “fully endorsed” Operation Future’s School Crime Watch initiative which recruits students to become crime watch officers responsible for looking after their peers and their school. They do this by reporting suspicious and bad behaviour to teachers.

According to its official website, Operation Future was founded in February 2005 and is designed to educate children about the dangers of crime, violence, drugs and other antisocial vices. Constable Percival revealed plans to enhance the reach of the message.

“One of the things we want to do is get this presentation videotaped and (upload) it to YouTube and other social media networks so that persons around the world can view it and educate themselves and others about bullying.” he disclosed.

Constable Percival noted that he and other members will be available to make similar presentations to other schools and to camps over the summer and urged persons to contact the group to make arrangements. Contact information and other details are available at www.sknoperationfuture.com/.

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3. Canadian Police To Help Fight Crime in St. Kitts – Nevis
4. Operation Future To Go To Nevis
5. Nevis Primary School Appreciates Donation From US School

Minister of Education – Mr. Nigel Carty
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
April 23, 2012 (CUOPM)

Programmes aimed at combating violence in schools and creating a friendly environment will continue during the course of this year, according to St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Education, Sen. the Hon. Nigel Carty.

“The threat of continuing violence summons a potent response from the Ministry of Education in the form our Violence Mitigation or Peace Promotion programme geared towards the creation of a more friendly school environment for students and teachers alike, and a curtailment of the trend of violence in our society, more generally,” said Minister Carty, who noted that over the last year, his ministry acted quickly to increase the complement of primary school guidance counsellors to assist schools in directly addressing the identifiable psycho-social problems of students.

He said there has been more systematic outreach of schools to the parent community.

“Our Peace Promotion Programme will be improved upon in the ensuing year. We will continue the implementation of our UNICEF-sponsored Violence Prevention project which involves training of teachers, assessment of schools, putting into effect specific policies to address anti-social behaviour, and an evaluation of the targeted outcomes,” said Minister Carty.

Outlining the mission of the Ministry of Education for 2012, Minister Carty mentioned the development of a school curriculum to promote peace, legislation to promote and regulate anti-social behaviour and parental responsibility, advocate for the development of Teen Courts as an alternative justice programme, and further investigate the subject matter of drug-testing in schools, among other significant recommendations.

He said the plans and priorities of the Ministry of Education and Information are designed to make a real difference in the lives of teachers and students, to enhance the prospects of students in school and beyond, and to change the socio-economic landscape of the country for the better.

“In a broad sense, our objectives for 2012 are to improve the morale and professionalism of our teaching force, improve the relevance of the academic, social and technical training of our students in an enhanced setting, and efficiently manage the resources allocated to our charge, supported by monitoring and evaluative tools and exercises,” said Minister Carty in his message outlined in the 2012 Estimates approved by the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly.

He says he looks forward to 2012 with great expectation of his ministry’s success in helping to move the people and country significantly forward and upward.

Related posts:

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3. St. Kitts – Nevis Government Takes Aim At School Violence
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Mr. Mesach Alford

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
February 23, 2012 (CUOPM)

Kittitian-born Meshach Alford of St. Paul’s has graduated from the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom with an  MSc in  Sustainable Rural Development with Commendation.

It is an accomplishment which he says is the result of hard work, determination and the steadfast support of family and friends.

Prior to this celebrated achievement, Meshach’s academic journey began at the St. Paul’s Primary School followed by the Sandy Point (renamed Charles E. Mills) High School and the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College.

He excelled while at these institutions having been awarded Most Outstanding Male of the Sandy Point High School’s graduating class of 2000 with nine CXC subject passes and a CAPE diploma in four major subject areas from the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College.

The prestigious University of the West Indies was next on his list of academic pursuits. He completed a four year undergraduate programme, obtaining a BSc. in Law and Sociology (Hons) in 2008 from the University’s Cave Hill Campus, Barbados.

As Meshach moves on to the next phase of his career he wishes to thank the St. Pauls community for assisting in the compilation of data for his thesis. A noteworthy piece aptly titled ‘Flooding and Land Use Changes in St. Pauls, St. Kitts: A Case Study on Rural Development, Environmental Change and Social Perceptions of Risk’. A dedicated youth and community activist he continues to support the growth and development of local youth through the knowledge and experiences gained.

Meshach has expressed thanks to his family and close friends for their encouragement, guidance and dedication throughout every stage of his journey.

The Communications Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister (CUOPM)  wishes Meshach the best in his future endeavours.

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