by Dr Neals J Chitan
The word “rotary” refers to the action of “turning around” and that’s exactly what the Rotary Club of Grenada is poised to do in our nation from 1 March 2026, till 31 May 2026.
Yep, standing in the gap to turn around the recent violence we see erupting in Grenada, especially on our girls and women.
With the recent murder of 2 young women within a 2-week period during this month, voices across Grenada are crying out not only for justice but for behaviour modification solutions. From the House of Parliament where “perceived insensitive” yet sobering comments addressing the root causes were made to street corners where people felt the pain, Grenadians are asking for answers that can medicate and deal with the dysfunctional psychosocial roots feeding this uncivilised and homicidal behaviour, especially in our men.
As a major focus of their 2026 agenda, the Rotary Club of Grenada has sought the partnership of our International Flagship Behaviour Modification and Crime Reduction Campaign Project STOP ‘n’ THINK (PSAT) to help “turn-around” and assist in re-training the thinking process, decision making and response of our citizens.
With 25 years of international experience in crime reduction through behaviour modification, our PSAT Campaign has deeply impacted and transformed communities across Canada, the USA, the UK, East Africa and from Jamaica in the north to Trinidad & Tobago in the south of the Caribbean, while to date serving 10 islands in the region. In 2023, PSAT impacted 6 communities and 6 high schools in St Lucia simultaneously, which resulted in spectacular graduation of 400 students, community youth, young adults and prisoners standing together and publicly taking our PSAT “RESPECT PLEDGE” to themselves, others, property, opinions and differences. In 2024, in response to a Cabinet Conclusion of the government of Grenada, PSAT was launched in 7 communities across the nation and culminated with another spectacular graduation ceremony and respect pledge taken by 205 individuals (72% males) at the Olympic House in Morne Rouge on 1 December 2024.
Unfortunately, despite the powerful impact PSAT made in 2024 on the 7 communities involved and the excitement and anticipation of 20 more communities in 2025, the PSAT train rolled to an unexpected, abrupt stop, thus halting the impact that could have been made on the decision making, impulse control, confrontational response and respect factor of our nation.
The Rotary Club of Grenada, therefore, must be highly complimented and praised for answering the call of the nation in partnering with Project STOP ’n’ THINK Community Empowerment Campaign to methodically address the deep roots of the crime and violence we see inflicting our communities. The 12 weekly high-impact sessions are designed to address:
- The hurt and pain of Adverse Childhood Experiences that lead to anti-social behaviour
- The negative family and community profiling that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy
- The Identity Crisis that has young men and women looking for acceptance and love in the wrong places
- The uncontrolled anger and revenge that breeds crime and violence
- The Respect Factor that’s missing in our homes, schools, churches and communities
- The restoring of the “Hard Work=Success” principle to combat the instant gratification syndrome that can breed crime and violence
These life-changing sessions, which we are excitedly looking forward to, will be held in the upstairs Conference Room of the Melville St Fish Market in St George’s every Monday evening at 5 pm – 7 pm, beginning on Monday, 2 March 2026, to register.
We are therefore inviting at-risk students, community youth, young adults, juveniles and young adults in the court system, individuals on probation and anyone looking to turn around their lives into a beautiful story to join us on this life-changing journey!!
We appeal to parents, schools, churches, sports clubs, social agencies, the Grenada Bar Association and community stakeholders to encourage and persuade individuals who need healing and change to attend. You may be saving a life while writing a success story!!
HATS OFF to the Rotary Club of Grenada for not just joining the masses in talking the talk, but putting boots on the ground and “Walking the Talk.”
Dr Neals Chitan is an International Social Skill Consultant and Crime Reduction Specialist who holds a PhD in Social and Behavioural Sciences and currently works in Grenada. He is the President/Founder of Motiv-8 For Change International, a Toronto-based Social Skill Agency, and can be reached from North America at 647-692-6330 and locally 473-416-8377 or at [email protected]