By Robert Andre Emmanuel
In an act of civic responsibility, two National Youth Ambassadors have made a significant contribution to the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda.
Jahmaal Frederick and Shaquan O’Neil presented equipment to the Traffic Department at Police Headquarters yesterday.
The donation, valued at approximately $2,500, included flashlights, reflective jackets, and pocketbooks, crucial for traffic officers, especially when responding to night-time accidents.
“As youth leaders, we wanted to give back to one of the most important parts of our society,” said Frederick during the handover ceremony.
“The Traffic Department keeps us safe on the roadways, especially at night, and these reflective jackets, signal lights, and pocketbooks will assist them in carrying out their duties during operations.”
O’Neil elaborated, saying, “We believe in supporting road safety initiatives. Even though this donation may be small, we believe it will help police officers better mobilise themselves and be more visible with the vests we’ve provided.”
O’Neil also said that they hoped to form a road safety programme, teaching young drivers the importance of traffic regulations and road safety.
“This is particularly crucial when new roundabouts are established, as some individuals may lack knowledge on how to use or utilise them properly,” he noted.
He spoke about a broader vision behind the initiative, building a formal collaboration with the youth ambassadors, other youth organisations and the police force.
“While some may question how this benefits youth directly, we see it as a stepping stone to create programmes where these same police officers can help educate youth in our schools and society about road safety,” he said.
Head of the Traffic Department, Superintendent Elson Quammie, and Deputy Commissioner Everton Jeffers, who accepted the donation on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, expressed gratitude for the timely gesture.
“For any organisation to function properly, it must be equipped with the requisite tools,” Jeffers stated, emphasising the importance of visibility and safety for officers working at accident scenes, particularly during night-time hours.
Jeffers continued, “Accidents don’t choose a time, they just happen…these lights will serve as indicators of an accident ahead, allowing drivers to slow down, and the reflective vests will make our officers visible, which is crucial when working on dark roads in grey uniforms.
“We don’t want to have an officer hit by a car while investigating an accident…these lights will help prevent such incidents.”
The initiative for this donation came from the youth ambassadors themselves as Frederick explained, “We saw the struggle they [the police] have at night when they go to investigate traffic accidents, so we decided to donate these items.”
The police leadership used this opportunity to call on other citizens and organisations to follow the example set by these young leaders.
They encouraged further support for the Traffic Department and other branches of the police force, emphasising that the work of the police benefits the entire community.
