The V.I. Housing Police have joined with young people of the Tutu Hi Rise community to revitalize a youth program that had died.
Tutu Youth in Action Against Crime started in 1981, but became a victim of apathy.
A handful of VIHA police officers decided to change that.
Officers David Cannonier, Adina Hodge and Kevin Potter are volunteering their time to get the program started again.
Cannonier, who grew up in Tutu Hi Rise, said he wanted to show the children they could become whatever they wanted to if only they put their minds to it, according to the V.I. Independent.
The group, consisting of the officers and young people ranging in age from 5 to 20, met Saturday to elect officers.
President Lauritzia Gardner, 17, said one of her goals was to raise enough money to buy a computer so her members and Tutu residents
could have access to the Internet.
Hodge said the group hopes local businesses will donate money, services or time to benefit the children.
The program will offer young people the opportunity to be responsible and to make decisions for themselves, according to Hodge.
They got a good lesson in how to do that Saturday. Before the meeting closed, the young people were informed that Cannonier
was being transferred to another housing community. They signed a petition asking Police Chief Fitzroy Williams to reconsider his decision.
Anyone who wants to make a contribution to Tutu Youth in Action Against Crime should call Eleanor Blackman, Tutu Housing manager, at 775-2900.
