By Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter 
Assistant Commissioner of Police Charles Scarlett (left) greets Canada's Chief of Police, Julian Fantino (centre), shortly after Fantino arrived yesterday at the Norman Manley International Airport, Kingston. Looking on are Canada's High Commissioner to Jamaica, Claudio Valle (right) and Senior Superintendent Kenneth Fairclough. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
CANADA'S POLICE Chief Julian Fantino has a big heart and it weighs more than the 21,000 lb of supplies that he has brought for the island's inner-city children.
"The weight is 21,000 lb of supplies. It's quite an extensive amount of all kinds of school supplies, sporting equipment and just the kinds of things we know are lacking," Mr. Fantino told The Gleaner shortly after his arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston yesterday.
Canada's top cop said his last visit, which facilitated a tour of several of the island's most volatile inner-city communities, made him aware of the need that existed, especially with regards to children. "Some of the things that they don't have we may be taking for granted in Canada," highlighted Chief Fantino.
Obviously moved by the state of the inner city, Mr. Fantino, on his return to Canada, solicited help from communities and corporate Canada and they responded well.
"We had a lot of sponsors and a lot of support and Air Canada flew all of that down," said Chief Fantino. Additionally, the high ranking officer said that he hopes the supplies will aid the Jamaica Constabulary Force to initiate some community-based programmes as well as to facilitate healthier interactions with the children in the communities.
DIALOGUE
Chief Fantino added that his visit would also facilitate the continuation of dialogue with the local police in an effort to bolster the thriving relationship between Jamaica and Canada.
"We don't have a formal Memo-randum of Understanding as yet, but nonetheless because of the contacts that we have made and the relationship that has developed we are better able to do our work to the mutual interest of public safety both in Jamaica and in my city, at least in the city of Toronto," said Chief Fantino.
