BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – HUNDREDS of school children marched through the streets of Basseterre yesterday (Apr. 4) afternoon declaring their support of Project Stop and Think, which encourages them to consider their actions before executing them.

Project Stop and Think was introduced to the Federation in March 2016 and since early this year, the Government become involved in assisting with spreading of that message.

Yesterday’s march began shortly after 1:00 p.m. in the vicinity of the Beach Allen Primary School and worked its way into downtown Basseterre, eventually making its way up Fort Street and culminating at the Independence Square where the rally was held.

A multiplicity of students marched and jammed their way to the sounds of the Police Drum Corps, the Grandmasters Band and a hi-fi system.

Addressing the students at Independence Square, Prime Minister and National Security Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris said young people suffer the most from crime and violence, evidence of which is shown in the prison statistics as well as those pointing to the number of children/young people who have lost loved ones via this means.

He said he was pleased that there was success in mobilizing the “hundreds, if not thousands” of young people in support of Project Stop and Think.

Dr. Harris expressed his wish that St. Kitts and Nevis becomes the safest place to live, the safest place for young people to thrive, and the safest place to do business. And he declared that his government is prepared to provide all the resources it can to fulfill that expectation.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security and organizer of the event Osmund Petty, told the gathering that during the past 10 weeks, Dr. Neals Chitan, the International Social Skills Consultant and Crime Reduction Specialist who introduced the Federation to Project Stop and Think, has been working with groups of 30-50 students in schools across the nation.

He said these children were identified and enrolled in the programme in which they were trained and motivated in topics which include, The Five Rs of Human Metamorphosis, Unlocking You, Your Decision Your Future, Stop and Think Before You Proceed, Deterrents to Stopping and Thinking, and Building and Achieving Your Own Dreams.

And as part of the rally, certificates were provided to each participating school for distribution to more than 300 students who successfully completed the training.

Petty said, going forward, the ‘Stop and Think Before You Proceed’ mantra in one which he wants to be the “rallying cry…as we fight crime in the Federation…

“Always stop and think before you proceed to do anything criminally or anything illegal…Before you bully anybody stop and think of what you are doing to them and to yourself…”

A similar exercise is expected to be held in Nevis next week.