KINGSTON, JAMAICA: The Police Civilian Oversight Authority (PCOA) is set to join the 2026 Nationwide News Network (NNN) School Tour as it makes its highly anticipated stop at St. Andrew High School for Girls on Cecelio Avenue, Kingston, this Friday, April 17.
Since its launch on February 27, this islandwide initiative has served as a mission of hope, designed to reignite confidence, motivation, and resilience in students across Jamaica—particularly those in the hard-hit western parishes by Hurricane Melissa.
While the tour focuses on emotional rebuilding, the PCOA team is leveraging the platform to engage students on the upcoming TOPS Poster Competition for High Schools in Area 4. Scheduled for launch on September 2, the competition targets students within the five JCF divisions comprising Area 4: Kingston Eastern, Kingston Central, Kingston Western, St. Andrew Central and St. Andrew South.
The PCOA is eager to hear from the youth, using art as a bridge between the community and law enforcement. PCOA CEO, Otarah Byfield, emphasized the importance of this outreach:
“We are striving to inspire a wave of entries this year because we truly value the perspective of our youth. We want to see, through their eyes, how they view the police and what they believe a healthy, productive relationship between citizens and the security forces should look like.”
With Kingston and St. Andrew combined having the highest number of schools in the island, she said: “It is essential that we get a strong representation of what the theme, ‘aforce4good’ actually means to these students. Their vision will help shape the future of oversight and policing in Jamaica.”
The 2026 tour has already left its mark on several institutions, such as Maud McLeod High (Westmoreland), Rusea’s High (Hanover), Anchovy High (St. James), Westwood High (Trelawny), and Dinthill Technical (St. Catherine), among others.
The tour experience includes: students recording short affirmations aired across NNN platforms, allowing them a space to share personal journeys of resilience in the wake of Hurricane Melissa; and, a marketplace for students to showcase and sell their creative products, proving that the business spirit starts in the classroom.
The NNN School Tour is scheduled to conclude its journey across the island in May.