‘It was fun through learning’ – COPSQUAD2000 graduate admits about training on GBV

Participants of the second and third batches of COPSQUAD2000 on Saturday expressed how
useful they’ve found the training and shared with minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud some of the
things that they especially appreciated learning.
Many repeated that the training brought out how Gender Based Violence (GBV) is not just
subjected to women, but affects children and men too. Furthermore, several participants
appreciated learning how to interview a survivor of GBV and how to deal with persons coming
to make a report. The graduation ceremony took place at the Police Officers’ Training Center in
Kingston with Dr. Persaud, Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn and Police Commissioner
Nigel Hoppie in attendance.

A total of 75 policemen and women have received their certificates and badges identifying them
as COPSQUAD officers thus far. The programme is the brainchild of Dr. Persaud. She said that
the intention is to have at least one officer trained to handle matters of domestic violence at each
police station across the country.
Minister Persaud is at the moment targeting half of the Force to be trained by the end of this
year. She expressed plans on ensuring that the other half is trained next year. She pointed out that
with the ‘train the trainers’ programme functioning effectively, the pace of COPSQUAD can
now be accelerated. She noted that this will result in simultaneous training being able to take
place in multiple regions. “It was fun through learning. I took away that there are many options
available to a survivor of GBV. I have learnt a new way to interview a survivor and I will
continue to move in a swift manner to ensure that justice is served,” a participant said.
Another said; “I’ve learnt how to guide and counsel perpetrators and how to communicate with
persons who went through such trauma. I’m looking forward for more training in the advanced
level of this programme.”
Meanwhile, a third graduate shared that even though he came to the programme with a negative
attitude, he couldn’t be happier that he participated. “I thought GBV was just for women. I
realised this was not true. I got to understand that we men can share how we’re hurting so we can
get justice. I learnt that it is possible for me to rape my wife,” he admitted. The training
highlighted role plays which helped the participants better understand what they were learning in
theory. It was pointed out that the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is playing an
integral role in providing technical assistance and training.
Minister Persaud continues to remind participants to do justice to their training and to be agents
of transformation. She expressed hope that the graduates will use their training to influence the
rest of the police force and to call out, and even report, errant officers.