THE Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) make million-dollar donation to Spanish Town to implement programmes geared at arresting crime in their communities.

BY KIMMO MATTHEWS Observer staff reporter matthewsk@jamaicaobserver.com  Monday, May 18, 2015    

THE Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) last week donated more than a million dollars to several NGOs in the St Catherine North Division for residents to implement programmes geared at arresting crime in their communities.

The sum is a fraction of the nearly $12 million which the constabulary is donating to groups across the island.

Assistant Superintendent Fitz Albert Linton (left) presents
 a cheque of $250,000 to Avis Bryant- Banton, head of the
Ebony Vale Citizen’s Association, while his colleague Tania
 Layne (right) presents to Alvarine Bennett of the De
 la Vega City Benelovent Society. (Photo: Karl MacLarty)

"Six local organisations were each handed a total of $250,000 towards initiatives in their community aimed at stemming the crime problem,' said Tania Layne from the JCF's Community Safety and Security Branch.

ASP Fitz Albert Linton said the funds were donated to the De la Vega City Benevolent Society, Central Jamaica Conference (Bendon SDA Church), Angels Grove Citizens' Association and Ebony Vale Citizens' Association Benevolent Society.

According to the police high command, the donations were made from the Community Safety Fund.

"Community Safety Fund supports civil society's participation in reducing crime and violence and promoting community safety at the parish/local and community levels," Layne told the Jamaica Observer at the Spanish Town police station where the presentations were made, last Wednesday.

The beneficiary groups had words of praise for the police initiative.

"I am really elated. We believe such a donation will go a far way in implementing a programme in our community," said Avis Bryant-Banton, head of the Ebony Vale Ctizens' Association.

She said the funds will be used for drain cleaning, to develop a sports progarmme and to purchase a public address system.

Alvarine Bennett of De la Vega City Benelovent Society had similar sentiments.

"We as a community are really thankful for the help and we really are grateful for the police and the work that they continue to do to clamp down on crime," she said. more