Members of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) will take up residence at the newly opened Desperlie Crescent Youth Development Centre in Laventille as part of the expansion of the Police Service’s ‘Hearts & Minds’ programme, to ensure positive development for youth in the area.
This building, which started off as a Centre for the Aged, has been years in the making, dating back to 2010.
Speaking at the official opening on Wednesday, Port of Spain Mayor Chinua Alleyne stressed the need for the Youth Development Centre in Laventille.
“Sometime in the not too distant past, Desperadoes left their ancestral home and found their way in different places all over the city of Port of Spain. It was around the Savannah for some time, they were on Tragarete Road for some time, and now they’re settled in the middle of downtown Port of Spain. But it means that the space that was available for the young people in this community, the panyard that was available as a safe and sacred space for the young people of this community, was no longer available to them.”
He said the building would be partly occupied by members of the Inter-Agency Task Force.
“A Memorandum of Understanding to be signed shortly between the City of Port of Spain and the Inter-Agency Task Force so that the IATF can take up residence in the downstairs portion of this building, bring their Hearts and Minds Programme into Desperlie Crescent and surrounding communities for all of the young people.”
But while he said the IATF’s presence would not be for security reasons, Port of Spain South MP Keith Scotland argued that it may be required.
“I am happy that the police are here in their numbers to show their presence because I suspect that that presence will be required as we go forward for the young people to find this as a space that they can improve themselves.”
He cited an issue before its official opening, which required the Police Service to step in.
“I won’t go into the details, but some months ago I got a call to say that we couldn’t get into the building and somebody had moved in. It so happened I was Minister in the Ministry of National Security at that time. I want to thank the police for partnering with us to ensure that this building is your building. This is not any person who feels that they can come in here and bully you and take over your building.”
And former Mayor of Port of Spain, Louis Lee Sing, said such an opening for the youth in the area was long overdue.
“I really would have preferred if this function was held 12 years ago. Make no bones about it, when we came here and we saw what was being contemplated, our council at the time took the decision that it really didn’t make the kind of sense others saw in establishing a home for the aged when there were so many needs among the young people in this community.”
He urged the community to utilise the space, especially the youth who live around the environs.