Published 19 February 2019
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Island Constables will allow regular police more time to deal with critical areas
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, February 18, 2019 (PLP PR Media Inc.) — The deployment of a new batch of 24 island constables, who will specifically be assigned to areas particularly frequented by tourists and locals, will bring additional benefits to the country as it relates to law and order.
In welcoming the new island constables at Government House on Monday February 18 after they took the oath of office and received instruments of appointment, Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr the Hon Timothy Harris said that they will add to the calm, safety and peace of the country and he was counting on them to deliver.
At a colourful ceremony held at Government House, Governor General His Excellency Sir S.W. Tapley Seaton administered the oath of office in accordance with the Island Constable Act of the Laws of St. Kitts and Nevis Chapter 19.21, and later presented them with the instruments of appointment.
Dr Harris noted that since the Commissioner of Police now has 24 additional persons to put in support of law enforcement that he could organise and ensure that some of the more advanced and experienced police officers could be deployed in some more critical areas of policing.
The Minister of National Security told the new island constables that many of the persons they will interact with in the course of their duties would be tourists, and advised them to be helpful and to offer pleasant service. He however cautioned that there will be occasions when they must be firm in enforcing the law, noting that the oath that they took requires them to do so firmly without favour or ill will towards any.
Although they are starting as island constables, Prime Minister Harris told them that there was room for them to advance as the important factor is not the starting point but rather the journey they will travel and the end game, telling them that the sky is the limit.
“Think of where you would want to end up in law enforcement if this is your goal, and do not say you can’t because before today many of you never thought of a career in law enforcement,” said Dr Harris. “Look where you are now. The future is in your hands and it just needs discipline. It just means that you have to control your mind and control your behaviour so that you do not exclude yourself from any other area of engagement.”
The ceremony was attended by the Attorney General the Hon Vincent Byron, Deputy Speaker the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett, Acting Commissioner of Police Hilroy Brandy, and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security Mr Osmond Petty. Others were National Security Advisor Major General (Ret.) Stewart Saunders; Force Personnel Officer Mr Clifford Govia; Mr Steve France-Sargeant of Bramshill Policing in England; Inspector Shorna Edward and Inspector Alphonso Hendrickson.
ENDS
Pix captions:
1: The new island constables take oath of office at Government House.
2: Island Constable Laddona Wilkinson receives her instrument of appointment from Governor General His Excellency Sir S.W. Tapley Seaton.
3: Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, addressing the new island constables at Government House.
4: The new Island Constables pose for a group picture with Governor General Seaton (3rd left) and Prime Minister Harris (4th left) among others.
