WHITNEY Institute has earned the honour of being the first school to produce a graduating class in gang resistance.

Earlier this month a total of 44 students completed the 12-week G.R.E.A.T.

(Gang Resistance Education and Training) Programme run throughout Middle Schools by the Bermuda Police Service.

Chief Inspector Bridgeman and parish constable Brian Perry presented certificates and T-shirts to the students at a ceremony on January 8.

And Chief Insp. Bridgeman noted: "It makes a pleasant change to see the Police and Bermuda's youth interacting in such a positive way.'' HE innovative scheme to bring Police and the youth together appears to be working.

G.R.E.A.T. graduates Aaron Simmons, Kelly Simons, and William Grant all said they had known their school liaison officer, P.c. Grant Tomkins, since primary school.

"He's a good guy,'' said one.

Over the last term P.c. Tomkins guided the students through a series of lessons to provide them with the tools to resist the pressure to join gangs and to avoid both crime and criminal activities.

AND the students also took part in community activities such as painting over graffiti on their school bus stop.

The three teens all said they found the outdoor Outward Bound activities especially exciting, but also said they learned a lot about drugs.

"I learned about the different effects on the body that they have,'' said William.

"I already knew about the lung part... with cigarettes.'' HE added: "But I learned that alcohol is a drug and it affects the brain. I thought it was just liquor.'' Aaron agreed the programme had given him "something to think about''.

And Kelly encouraged her fellow students to complete the course to gain the satisfaction of having "achieved something on life''.

The Bermuda Life Skills Group and the Jardine Mathieson Group both provide funding for the programme.

GANG BUSTERS! -- Forty-four Whitney Institute students recently became the Island's first graduates of the G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education And Training) Programme. Police officers pictured, from left, are Fawn Wade, Grant Tomkins, Chief Inpector Vendall Bridgeman, Brian Perry, and Martin Weeks. Also pictured is Whitney principal Gareth Davies.