Ex-police organization a model to follow
Guyana Chronicle
December 25 2005
Ex-Police organization in Canada a model to follow – President O`Dell
By Frederick Halley
Toronto – After serving his first term as president of the Guyana Ex-police Association of Canada (GEPAC), John O’Dell was unanimously returned unopposed to the post when the organization held its Annual General Meeting recently in Toronto.
O’Dell, who has the distinction of being the first “non-police” and the youngest president to head GEPAC, described 2005 as a very productive year for the association.
“We’ve raised the bar for many to follow or copy. We have raised public awareness and created visibility of our organization, which is due to the collective effort of all of us as members. This is outstanding,” he pointed out in his end-of-year report.
Touching on some of the highlights during the year, O’Dell spoke of:
- The various articles the news media ran on the bold step the organization took in electing a “non ex-Police” to the post as president.
- The toy drive with the Toronto Auxiliary Police.
- The Law Enforcement Drive with six law enforcement agencies.
- Black Community Police Consultative Committee (BCPCC) Reading Initiative and Black History Month celebration with Toronto Police Service.
- Ongoing work with the Youth Arm Committee of the Alliance to provide coaching and assistance for youths in areas of reading, math, grooming, resume writing, interviewing and many more life skills.
- Collection of over $100K in pharmaceuticals and cash donations in aid of the Guyana Flood Relief.
- Assisting the Church of the Nativity, a Malvern Community church, on the creation of their website and assisting with erecting their much needed fencing.
- Judging the Miss Guyana Canada Pageant 2005.
Reminding members that GEPAC was created with the intention of brotherhood and camaraderie, O’Dell declared that “we have surpassed that goal, we have created a model organization for many to follow. We are to be commended for this. We must continue to be creative and re-invent ourselves in order to always be looked upon as a “model” organization. We have extended the way we do business as a guide to our brother and sister organizations worldwide. This is commendable. This is a testament to the unwavering commitment that each of us contribute to the organization’s success. We continue to showcase our website and have received positive feedback … from all around the world.”
A trade unionist by profession, O’Dell cautioned that GEPAC members must continue to be astounding role models for each other and their children.
“We must continue to project a positive image for and with each other, our organization and our children in the community at large. If we truly believe that we are our brother’s keeper, we will take all feedback, both positive and negative, and learn from it. We must continue on our journey forward as a team realizing that we are all working towards the same common goal for this organization and the world at large. We must learn from each other and we must also teach each other.”
O’Dell called on members to operate the Youth Committee with more diligence. “Our focus should always be what knowledge can we share with our youth, our children and our grandchildren.”
He also advised members to reflect on the past year in terms of what they have learned, done and accomplished and where they want to go for the new year.
“It’s also the time that we review what worked and what we would change. Change can be a good thing. In order to view change in a positive light, we must encourage feedback (positive and negative) both personally and organizationally so we can learn from it. In reflecting on the feedback, we should recognize that there are some things that are within our control to change and some things that are not.”
O’Dell never served in the Guyana Police Force but has policing in his blood. His mother, Gem Sampson-Latchman, who was last stationed at Force Control, reached the rank of corporal (W135), while his grand-father, Wilfred Sampson, (# 4352) retired as a sergeant.
At the onset, GEPAC, which was established in 1997, only extended limited membership to children and spouses of ex-police, but with an amended constitution, these members were granted full rights. Next year marks the 10th year since the association was formed and its greatest challenge is the big International Reunion of former and current policemen, set for May 2006.
The celebrations focus on individuals from Guyana, United Kingdom, United States and other parts of the world.
Other members of the new executive are vice-president William Henry, secretary Frederick Halley, treasurer Cleveland Chester, assistant secretary Gordon Collins, assistant treasurer George Wilson, Welfare Officer Bertrand Leacock, Assistant Welfare Officer Julian Austin, Public Relations Officer Desiree Fanfair, Sergeant At Arms Fitzherbert Mars, Trustees Roy Soobrian, Joy Simon and Patricia Agrippa, Business Manager Ken Chance and Past President Cleveland Moore.