On Wednesday, October 29, 2020 Police Constable Devon Bute, a final year law student who is currently pursuing his Bachelors of Law Degree at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados were among two (2) Vincentian students and a group of Barbadian Nationals who were recognized and awarded for their service to the Government and People of Barbados at Government Industrial School (Boys Unit) Dodds, St. Phillip, Barbados.
The award is as a result of outstanding mentorship work rendered at the Boys Government Industrial School (Dodds) under the PATH (Promoting Agency, Trust and Hope) Program over the past year. In October 2019 he was selected from among a list of applicants who were vying to be selected and trained as a mentor. After having been successfully selected, he underwent a series of training which was facilitated by the Oxford Caribbean Youth Development Project to prepare him to fulfill his mentorship role.
The PATH Program is sponsored by Templeton World Charity Foundation under the auspices of Oxford University and the Coordination of the Institute for Gender and Development Studies UWI Cave Hill. The program is an initiative that provides mentoring to the boys and girls at the Dodds and past residents as well. The program in celebration of its anniversary awarded the Mentors and Mentees who stuck with the program and who have performed outstanding work. Constable Bute also received an award for outstanding Mentor core, Record keeping Certificate of recognition of service to the Government and People of Barbados. The second Vincentian student who was awarded was Ms. Zandalee Williams who is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Business Analytics and Marketing.
The award ceremony heard remarks from state officials including, Hon. John King, Minister with responsibility for Culture in the Prime Minister’s Office who congratulated the awardees and thanked them for their service on behalf of the Government and People of Barbados. The keynote address was delivered by Mr. Anthony Wilshire, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
According to Constable Bute, in 2019 he consulted with a Vincentian lecturer at UWI in respect of projects that he could have meaningfully engaged in as a law student. He was directed to the PATH program which eventually suited his policing experience and course of study.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Colin John and the other ranks and files of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force extend congratulations to Constable Devon Bute for his outstanding mentorship work in Barbados and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.