Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

The People National Party's 'Bunny' Witter ... a product of the Inner-city Leadership Training Programme. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

IN HIS speech at the Inner-city Leadership Training Programme's (ILTP) graduation ceremony last Thursday, Jamaica Labour Party general secretary, Karl Samuda, described the project as one of Jamaica's 'best kept secrets'.

Since it was launched by the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) 14 years ago, hundreds of youth from the country's grittiest communities have benefited from training in various fields, preparing them for the job market.

First batch of graduates

Joseph 'Bunny' Witter, the People's National Party repre-sentative for West Kingston, is a former ILTP participant. He was among the first batch of graduates in 1993.

The programme has also involved members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). In addition to earning certificates, their participation is aimed at improving relations between the police and inner-city residents.

Last week, 44 persons, including six JCF officers, graduated from the latest six-week course. They came from areas normally associated with violence, such as Arnett Gardens, west Kingston, Waterhouse, Max-field Avenue and east Kingston.

Served its purpose

Former JCC president, Sameer Younis, who helped start the ILTP, said it has served its purpose which, among other things, is to strengthen relations among persons from communities divided by politics and gang violence.

"You all spent six weeks together and I don't see any of you fighting ... I don't understand why when you go back to your homes you fight," he said.

"You've got to take what you've learnt back into your communities and pass it on to the children and your colleagues."

This year's programme cost $600,000 with cellular phone company Digicel and the National Housing Trust providing the lion's share of sponsorship.

As it has done since the ILTP's inception, the University College of the Caribbean (formerly the Institute of Management and Production) supplied lecturers.

Selection

Participants in the ILTP are selected by the Civic Affairs Committee of the JCC based on their passes at the CXC and GCE levels. Those selected are placed in courses that offer certificates in everything from Introduction to Entrepreneurship to Budget Preparation and Family Life.

Sharnalee Keys of Windward Road in east Kingston says she chose Business Management at the urging of her mother. The 21-year-old graduated last week and hopes the course will eventually help her start her own cosmetology business.

While the ILTP's primary goal is to build self-reliance and career awareness among inner-city youth, the JCC says it has helped build trust between the police and communities where they operate. Among its successes in this area are:

(1) The preparation of the Code of Conduct for Police-Citizen Relations. Persons from eight communities worked with police and lawyers to draft this document.

(2) Establishment of the Code of Conduct for Community Resolution Councils to resolve community and domestic disputes.

(3) Establishment of the Inner-city Development Employment Agency and Liaison Service to find jobs for ILTP graduates.