The situation of crime and security in the Federation has sunk to such a low that one rarely hears positives about the police force or its leadership any more - at least from this writer. It is often the case that when people are frustrated, not getting their needs met and particularly when they feel unsafe, they will undoubtedly focus on the negatives.

The truth is that we have lost too many of our young people to gang violence; too many of our homes are being robbed (now increasingly) at gun point; the murder rate is entirely too high for our once very peaceful country!

With all of this bad news there are some great things happening in law enforcement! There are clearly excellent police officers in the ranks who perform beyond the call of duty, despite being under-paid, under-served and under-resourced.

Operation Future is an initiative and creation of a few lone officers in the Royal St. Christopher & Nevis Police Force in which volunteers from the Force, a St. Kitts based initiative, donate their own time and resources to take an anti-gang, anti-violence message to the primary schools in the Federation.

The officers are joined by several outstanding civilian volunteers, one of whom is a retired officer (Shaw), the other a stellar NCAI member who provides leadership and expertise to the effort, as well as a returning national disk jockey from Canada along with several others. The group is building momentum and (hoping and looking for) new recruits to their enterprise each week as they move from school to school in the Federation every Friday.

After going through all the schools in St. Kitts, a few weeks ago they began their rounds in Nevis, having already done three. With a style and energy not unlike that of a hit broadway show on the road, maybe even a great evangelistic crusade, they bring musical talent, kids friendly humor and a no-nonsense message to the young people - ages 7-11 about the ills and folly of joining a gang or getting into trouble of any kind.

Using sensitization and education, under the leadership of Constable Lauston Percival and Constable Lyndita Powell, Operation Future's founding members, joined by their civilian counterpart who later joined them, Mr Dan Mc Mullin, a former RCMP officer and defense attorney in Canada who was once reputed for his representation of known gangsters, they are relentless in their mission to save our young people from the inevitable path of gangs, drugs and violence.

The Magic Man's energy and personality combined with his apparent street cred adds a unique luster to the team. With their talented musical voices and unusual spirit, given the way officers are perceived nowadays in the Federation, female officers Nicholas and Thomas provide the best supporting caste one can find anywhere.

One notable civilian volunteer, Jacinth 'Shakki' Smithen uses her exceptional voice and through song makes it very difficult indeed for any listener not to want to hear the message that follows her renditions. The smartly chosen popular song Lean on Me is effectively used to provide emotional and psychological support for any family or personal problem being experienced by the youngsters while bringing them together in a mutually supportive context.

As with any effective instruction geared for young people the students are not only inspired and motivated by the content, but are led to full participation. The message is pretty simple. With a brief but relevant history on the founders of the Crips and the Bloods, the young people are shown through power point and heart to heart instruction, the connection between gang life and slavery. They are given enough real and up close and personal information to make an intelligent decision for a bright future of education, use of talent and hard work over the inescapable box of prison if they are lucky or death. The message is extremely compelling and its messengers capable and experienced.

Operation Future's team, with their kids friendly personalities, brings a fun packed, energy filled and a very strong anti-gang message to primary school young people in the Federation. It provides a face and a heart to the police in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. These officers should be not only highly commended for their volunteer efforts but should be promoted in the Force for delivering the one thing so desperately needed in the Federation by police officers - a community minded and community friendly posture.

These officers ought to be much closer to the top of the hierarchy in the Force than they are, not on the bottom rung. Their superiors should strongly re-consider the criteria for promotion. Is it years of experience in the Force? Operation Future's leader, Constable Lauston Percival has been in the Force since 1995, but is still a constable after all these years. There is need for additional officers as well as civilian volunteers so that Operation Future can augment this badly needed initiative.

While there is some support from the top brass of the Force (otherwise the officers would not be allowed time off to carry out this project), both the management and political directorate of the Police need to free up resources and put their FULL weight behind Operation Future. Community policing is the answer to increasing the impact of the police in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.

At a time like this in our country, there is no task more noble, no effort more important and no aim more relevant than the extraordinary work this team of outstanding citizens are engaged in every week in providing a brighter future for all of us. Kudos to Operation Future!