The Tribune

By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

TEN students who were arrested for bringing knives to school have been pardoned after completing the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s Second Chance Programme.

The students were among more than 60 graduates at a ceremony hosted in the Paul Farquharson Centre at police headquarters on Friday. 

A total of 62 students, ranging from junior to senior high school, participated in the programme, which is designed to help at-risk youth struggling with behavioural issues. During remarks, Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander said the Second Chance Programme has guided students toward a life away from crime.

He acknowledged the challenges faced by young people growing up in crime-ridden areas and urged the graduates not to become products of their environment. Mr Fernander praised students for choosing a better path and emphasised the importance of resisting peer pressure.

Among the graduates were ten students who had been arrested for carrying knives to school with the intent to cause harm. After reviewing their cases, the commissioner decided to pardon them.

On Friday, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis underscored the significance of the programme, stressing the power of perseverance, resilience, and the willingness to embrace change. Addressing the graduates, the prime minister said the ceremony marked a turning point, representing their departure from the past and their step into a brighter future.

“This program wasn’t easy. It required you to look in the mirror, confront your mistakes and commit to making different choices. And today, as you sit there, you’re shown not only to yourselves, but to everyone watching that you are capable,” Mr Davis said.

He added: “The second chance is much more than what I call a reset button. It’s an opportunity to prove what you are made of. It’s your moment to show your families, your moment to show your communities, your moment to show your country that you are beyond the sum of your past actions you have demonstrated, the courage to change, the strength to grow and the determination to succeed.”

For her part, Minister of Education Glenys Hanna-Martin reflected on her own mistakes, emphasizing the value of self-forgiveness and the lessons learned from them.

She also encouraged the graduates to seek help from guidance counsellors if they face challenges and to stay motivated as they return to school.