The Belize Police Department launched the "Do The Right Thing" initiative in 2005. It recognizes young adults who avoid the pitfalls of peer pressure to walk the straight and narrow.
Since then we can't say that it has had a transformative effect on youth culture, but it has certainly served as an inspiration for some high schoolers.
We went to Old Belize today to see who won this year's award:.....
Emaun Hyde
"How do you feel now that you have won?"
Tracy Donis, 2010 1st Place Winner
"I fell proud of myself, I don't know I can't stop smiling (laughing) it's just brings a joy in me to win. To know that I could continue achieve my studies and I know that I could be an inspiration to others."
Emaun Hyde
"How do you think that winning the competition will change your life?"
Tracy Donis
"Well I believe that it will change my life a lot because I really wanted to continue study after 4th form and now a have the chance to do so. So I will do my best, work hard and strive for what I want in life."
Emaun Hyde
"How does it feel to know that you are an inspiration to a lot of younger kids? What would you like to say to everyone out there that would like to try out for a competition like this?"
Tracy Donis
"Well, I would tell everyone to be very optimistic, trust in their selves and trust in God and believe in yourself that yes you can be in this competition you know, you be very optimistic in life that's the main thing, you know you have to be and you know despite whatever your problems are whatever troubles, whatever situations you're going through that could be like a help to you, maybe you could join it, because people look at what you're going through to want to help you that way you know. So I encourage them to be optimistic in life and try to be the best and do the right thing."
Crispin Jeffries, Commissioner of Police
"The program gives the children an opportunity to see some of the things that the police does, but also to make an effort to make the changes that they would want to make or they need to make in their lives, and it gives them the kind of encouragement because of the sponsorship and the kind of recognition they get at school assembles and the activities in schools and their communities."
Emaun Hyde
"How do you think positive events like this affect the communities or the enter country?"
Crispin Jeffries
"It does affect the country in a positive way. The problem is that it's not necessarilyrepeated and duplicated in other areas and not sufficient of it is happening to start to hold the attention or provide for the lot of young person who maybe engage or who could have been engaged."
Saying that he was wary of any interview with 7news, Commissioner Jeffries firmly stressed that he would only comment on today's event. A ridiculous demand for a public figure, but in this case, not wholly unexpected.
The 21 year old winner says she will further her education in business studies.
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