News
TCI Sports Commission launches Police Action League youth sports program
#TurksandCaicos, July 16, 2022 – Early June, the Turks and Caicos Islands Sports Commission (TCISC) revealed the launch of the Police Action League (PAL), a youth sports league aimed at promoting positive relationships between law enforcement officers and youth in the community. This will be done through education programs, sports, and recreational opportunities.
This strategic partnership between the TCISC, Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) and the Ministry of Education, aims to target youth with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and juvenile delinquency while fostering teamwork, enforcing citizenship and provide opportunities to work with law enforcement officers and caring adult mentors.
The Director of the TCISC Jarrett Forbes expressed, “PAL is a safe space and nurturing environment that creates peaceful communities and positively impact youth health and wellbeing…PAL believes that they can help channel our people in a positive way by empowering our youth to make responsible life choices. The program philosophy is focused on making a positive impact on the lives of youth in the community. The key to change for these youth and their families, is to provide a safe space that helps to encourage quality character and positive development through sports, academics, and mentoring programs.”
This year PAL hosts two sports: softball targeting girls and basketball aimed at boys. PAL is being supported by the TCI Basketball Federation and the Softball Federation aiding the running of the program. It also replaces the Youth Basketball League held last year, performing at an improved and enhanced level.
The 3-month league spans from August 6 – October 22, 2022, in Providenciales and picks up in Grand Turk early 2023. Registration is now open with participants paying a small fee of $20, including their uniforms and
Once registered there will be a PAL draft where players will be picked to play on various teams.
While the focus of PAL is to facilitate safeguarding and mentorship for children from adverse backgrounds, it is not solely about intervention, but a holistic, enriching, and pleasurable experience for youth. The opportunity is open to RTCIPF officers and community volunteers to provide mentorship to the PAL participants.
Superintendent Dwight Gardiner shared, “PAL is a perfect example of what community policing is all about out. At the basic level community policing is about partnering with the community and other stakeholders to identify problems or areas for interventions and come up with methods of solving these problems…PAL aligns with objectives working closely with schools and building strong communities through partnerships.” The aim of the policing strategies as expressed by Gardiner is to identify the delinquency problems early and prevent them from blossoming into developed felons, while finding long-term intervention structures.
Deputy Commissioner of Police passionately expressed “I would argue that the reactive approach has not worked and will not work, we must be proactive. What we’re doing [PAL] is critical…we will continue to put our money where our mouth is from the Police Force.” Adams then revealed that the RTCIPF is charging towards greater discipline in the music sector as well, purchasing instruments.
In Hon. Rachel Taylor’s Minister responsible for both Sports and Education absence, Permanent Secretary of Education Wesley Clerveaux shared “It is always said that opportunities don’t happen, you create them. This Police Action League is in-line with our Strategic Objective Four of the Youth Policy, creating safe spaces peaceful communities and environments for our youth. It is essential that we empower our youth, and this indeed can happen through this initiative.”
Register for the Police Action League using this form: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GnQTdi6eSyzsaz6QvP-25jUvsudmKLlE/view?usp=sharing and for more information email registration.sportscommission@gov.tc.
Related links:
Photos from the conference: https://turks-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/nehislop_gov_tc/EurmN5EeoeNIuDAXruSVn2gBBHzTaLOOIqdFDinOMPL7Hg?e=JbFZMb
Stream the press conference: https://fb.watch/d_MngedZqF/
Release: TCI Sports Commission