08/06/2026
Fortifying Young Minds Against Gangs
Conversations with students reveal that mental health is not a one way street, there are many factors that contribute to how they respond in different circumstances.
Here is St. Catherine North these conversations don’t just fall on deaf ears, they inspire social programmes and drive meaningful change. Students from across the division convened on the Spanish Town Police Station to be engaged in our Strategic Workshop on Anti-gang Activities (SWAGA). This initiative lead by the Safe School Coordinator Cons Joel Robinson and School Resource Officer Cons. Lenardo Green focuses on empowering students to make better decisions, to strengthen their minds against gangs and other criminal activities and to improve their awareness on the correlation of gangs in the mental health of students.
Students were engaged by Commanding Officer SSP Hopton Nicholson, Acting Territorial Officer, Sgt. Kester Fennel and partnering agencies, National Council on Drug Abuse of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and the Restorative Justice Programme under the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
Drugs, conflicts, bullying and gangs are all negatively influencing the mental health of our students and the Jamaica Constabulary Force is resolute in this ONE cause to reach our children with ONE purpose to challenge their minds to build a better Jamaica.
Here are some highlights: