From left: Kay Osborne, Commissioner of Police Hardley Lewin, Beverly Hurst, Mike Hurst and Captain Tessa Lewin, wife of the commissioner, enjoy the festivities.

With the issue of personal safety being uppermost on the minds of most well-thinking Jamaicans, any effort to address the malady is a most welcome intervention at this time. The effects of crime and violence on the productive capacity of individualises not just counterproductive, they are injurious to our continued existence.

In recognition of this, some years ago, a group of concerned Jamaicans, drawn both from corporate as well as from civil society, came together and formed a national chapter of an international organisation. Its charter was to facilitate a partnership between the private and public sectors, stakeholders and policymakers, to arrest the problem of crime and its effect on the productive capacity and morale of the nation.

That was 20 years ago. The organisation, Crime Stop, and after relative success, on Saturday, September 12, it celebrated its 20th anniversary. The occasion was also used to introduce its new campaign and strategies going forward. Michael Hirst, the founding local chairman, and his lovely wife, Beverly, of Prism Communications, hosted what proved a charming cocktail reception, at their upper St Andrew home in Cherry Gardens. It was a most stimulating outing.

fitting mode

Hosted in the gardens and poolside of the home, with the multi-talented Charmaine Lemonius entertaining on guitar and her melodious voice, belting out some international favourites, the evening made for quite the tropical outing. It was a most fitting mode to welcome the visiting head of Crime Stoppers International, Gary Murphy, and his stunning wife, Natasha. Both were guests of Crime Stop Jamaica.

Crime Stop Jamaica is a commendable organisation, supported by leading media houses, advertising and communications agencies, as well as other corporate entities and individuals. These groups continue to give of their time, energy and resources to help the officials maintain law and order, as well as help in the closing successfully unsolved crimes, through funding of the Crime Stop Information For Reward initiative. There are other outreach programmes designed to change the culture of community silence that engenders the viability of those who are the perpetrators and masterminds of crime.

With its role of sensitising the public that the silence of the community while wanton acts of criminality continue, is in effect tantamount to giving support to criminals. Crime Stop Jamaica plays a crucial role, its volunteers and sponsors, no less so in helping to address the systemic failure that successive administrations have failed to tame. This allows crime and violence to become the fastest growing industry, threatening the existence and livelihood of all other facets of the state.

Crime Stop Jamaica buttresses the Jamaican police and their supporting agencies and for this, those who continue to support them should be lauded.

And so it was, with lush gardens and plush lawns as the perfect backdrop for the evening, guests - a gathering including members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, spent the evening over cocktails and delicious finger foods. Two giant-size television monitors strategically elevated at the eastern end of the pool deck, showed the unveiling of the latest Crime Stop initiatives.

It was a very charming outing, not withstanding as guests shared felicitations, libations and a spirit of camaraderie that made for a very warm outing. Among those out were former police commissioner and Minister of National Security Col Trevor MacMillan and wife, Dr Olivia MacMillan; Commissioner of Police Rear Admiral Hardly Lewin and wife, Captain Tessa Lewin; DCP Les Green; Peter-John Thwaites; Sandra Glasgow; Charles and Natalie Ross; Gordon and Diane Arnold; Julian and Sancia Temple; Neville James; the charming Kay Osborne; Errol Miller; the charming Jennifer Cheeseman; Mark and Prudence Gentles; Ian and Janet Phillipson and Doug McClure.

We spotted the lovely Camille Taylor; Tony Scott; the elegant Daphne Tyrell; Dr David McBean; Craig and Tara Bernard; Mikael Campbell; the beautiful Michelle Hirst, along with her grandmother, Jean; plus a number of others.

Gordon and Dianne Arnold are in a mellow mood.- photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Gary Murphy (left), president, Crime Stoppers International, and his wife, Natasha Murphy.