Mark Titus, Enterprise Reporter

Children play at an open lot in Beverly Flat, Newland. More than 300 children from Newland are reportedly not attending school.

Newland, an informal settlement plagued by crime and social decay, is ready to start anew.

The absence of basic amenities such as street lights, roads and other infrastructure has made the area a refuge for criminals. But the Portmore, St Catherine, neighbourhood is determined to shed its tarnished reputation.

"The community was once a safe haven for criminals, but they are not welcome here anymore," said Ainsley 'Tiger' Parkin, president of the Newland Citizens' Association. "We want to see this community become a model in Jamaica; the majority of the people here are decent, law-abiding citizens who just desire better for their children and themselves, and we want to create that path for change."

Transformation

The constabulary, which last Friday launched a community policing initiative, has partnered with Newland residents to spearhead transformation.

"They (police) come in and talk to the youths time and time again, and they (community members) now see the police as friends," says Parkin.

He is, however, cognisant that law enforcement alone will not solve the community's problems, as Newland is affected by wide-scale social malaise.

Of the approximately 4,500 residents, roughly 65 per cent live in one- or two-bedroom wooden houses, which have no sanitary facilities. This contributes to the high rate of water-borne diseases in the area, Parkin says.

Litany of Woes

Like many other communities throughout Jamaica, unemployment - fingered as the key driver of crime - tops the list of woes. Widespread illiteracy, community stigmatisation and high numbers of pregnant teens and school dropouts are also cause for concern.

"One of our most effective methods has been through our youth camps, where we get an opportunity to interact with the young people and they also get a chance to see another side to us," Sgt Albert Simpson, head of the St Catherine South Division's Community Safety and Security Branch, tells The Gleaner.

"We have also assigned four community officers to the area since March of this year, and this has worked wonders."

Simpson believes community-police relations have improved, evident in the increased willingness of residents to divulge information. Info from citizens has led to the recovery of 45 firearms since January, The Gleaner has learnt.

Crime concern

Head of the St Catherine South Community Safety and Security Branch, Sgt Albert Simpson (right), interacts with residents of Newland, Portmore, recently. Looking on at left is citizens' association head, Ainsley 'Tiger' Parkin. - Photos by Mark Titus

Police crime statistics reveal that six persons - last year's homicide count during the corresponding period was three - have been murdered in Newland in 2008. Most of this year's murders are believed to be gang related.

However, Parkin remains hopeful that the new police thrust will pay off in the long term if residents and other civic groups cooperate.

"The police are doing a wonderful thing, and all it needs at this time is for other agencies to step up to the plate and join the members of the JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force) in what they are doing."

Community policing - in contrast to more combative law-enforcement strategies - seeks to build strong linkages between residents and local cops to understand the nature and roots of crime and find long-term solutions.

mark.titus@gleanerjm.com