By NINA LAING

Freeport News Intern

In lieu of Black History Month, St. Georges High School yesterday held an official opening for its second annual Bahamian Caribbean International Month under the theme "A Tribute to the Royal Bahamas Police Force: 170 Years of Excellence in Policing."

School Librarian and Coordinator of the event, Velyn Cooper, said she created the celebration because she wanted the students to have a greater understanding for Bahamian history.

"We started Bahamian Caribbean International Month to focus on our own history because I felt that the children needed to understand what our history is in order to build a good solid foundation and decide how they want to help to build our country and our future. The Black History Month in America is good but it didn't cover our history. So, we were learning everything else about them and nothing about us. Now we get to focus on us."

Cooper said that since last year's Bahamian Caribbean International Month, which focused on the countries represented at the school, students have been anticipating this year's event.

She explained that her main goal this year is to create appreciation and respect for the police force.

"I don't think we have an educated understanding of how far you can go in the police force. We're used to seeing police officers on the street or in the cars and we see the uniforms and we don't know what the colours mean. We see ribbons and we don't understand what they mean. I think the children don't respect policemen because they don't understand what it all stands for. So when they can come and go from ground zero, from the very beginning, to where we are now, they should get a good understanding of the police force and make an educated choice to become a police officer."

Speaking before colleagues and other distinguished guests at the special assembly in the school's courtyard, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Quinn McCartney provided students with some history on the Royal Bahamas Police Force and charged them to become upstanding members of the community.

"We have unfortunately encountered many young men and women in our country who have already gone on the other side of the law, who have already decided to live a life of crime. I'm here to encourage you to become friends with us now while you're still good and productive citizens. We're hoping that as a result of the exhibit you will see during this month that you will be encouraged to join the Royal Bahamas Police Force and to make it a career," he said.

McCartney also stressed to the students that the Police Force is far more than just police officers, but that it comprises multitalented individuals skilled in areas including law, medicine, masonry and computer technology, who are "all doing their part to make this country a better and safer place."

Cooper believes that if students make the "positive career choice" of becoming police officers that the school will begin to see a commendable change in student behaviour.

In fact, with the continuation of Bahamian Caribbean International Month, Cooper predicts that the entire community will see this change.

"I'm sure that as the years go on, you're going to see St. Georges is going to be a totally different school. The persons who come from this school, (people) will know that they come from St. Georges and they will know that the experience they had here was positive and life-lasting."