INSPECTOR DICKENSON PROUD OF RECRUITS PERFORMANCE AT INDEPENDENCE 35 PARADE

Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 20, 2018 (SKNIS): The hard work being put in by the recruits currently undergoing training at the Police Training Complex paid off in a significant way following an announcement by Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, at Camp Springfield on Wednesday (September 19).

During the Toast to the Nation, held immediately following the 35^th Anniversary of Independence Day Parade, Dr. Harris stood before the armed and unarmed units from the parade, Members of Parliament, resident and visiting diplomats, and hundreds of citizens and announced that Platoon No. 6, which comprised the men and women aspiring to become full-fledged Constables in the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF), was adjudged the Best Armed Unit on parade. The title is awarded to the unit that executed the drills with the most precision as well as the tidiness of the uniform.

Inspector Eldrin Dickenson, Commandant of the Police Training Complex, said he was extremely proud, of the efforts of the recruits of Course 42, who practiced three times per day for the past five weeks.

“I felt good,” he said, recounting the announcement after the parade. “I spoke to them and I told them I felt happy and I hope that they understand what the hard work pays off for.”

Their performance is even more impressive, given that the other armed platoons on parade were made up of soldiers from the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force, the Coast Guard Unit, and the RSCNPF. The decision by Commissioner of Police, Ian Queeley, to have a third platoon of officers during the 35^th annual parade marked the fourth time that police recruits were featured at an Independence parade. The last time was Course 37, who participated in 2010.

Several of the 23 recruits that were on parade are no strangers to marching in public. On August 03, 2018, a contingent of recruits paraded through the streets with young participants from the 2^nd Annual Ministry of National Security/RSCNPF Explorers Group Annual Summer Camp.

Inspector Dickenson said that earning the title of Best Armed Unit at the 35^thIndependence Day Parade will help to improve the confidence of the members of Course 42.

“I think that the performance will have them do even better. They are doing very well in class right now but I believe that those who are still below can still make a better effort in reaching further with their grades to be able to be successful to the end of the course,” the Commandant of the Police Training Complex stated.

The men and women are expected to graduate in December 2018.

SKNIS Photo 1:  PM Harris after completing inspection of Platoon No. 6