Traffic Department receives early Christmas gift from PEP
Basseterre, St. Kitts — Inspector Carl Caines, head of the Traffic Department in the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, has had a good working relationship with the People Employment Programme (PEP) ever since he accepted a team of PEP participants to work in his department as traffic wardens.
It was therefore no surprise when on Wednesday 10th December Inspector Caines thanked the People Employment Programme, through its Project Manager Mr Geoffrey Hanley, for what he (Inspector Caines) called an early Christmas gift to the Traffic Department, and by extension the Licensing Authority and the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force.
Mr Hanley had journeyed to the St. Johnston Police Station, where the Traffic Department is headquartered, and upon meeting with Inspector Caines announced the formation of a PEP Road Safety Project and presented a new Field Lazer S200, a professional field marking equipment.
“The People Employment Programme is delighted this morning to present to the Traffic Department a Field Lazer S200, a professional field marking equipment,” said Mr Hanley. “This would enhance our PEP Road Safety Project that we are about to launch.”
According to Mr Hanley, PEP had been working with the Traffic Department in various aspects to improve road safety in St. Kitts and Nevis and the latest gesture is going to further strengthen the institutional capacity of the Traffic Department as it endeavours to make road safety its number one priority.
The new equipment will be used for road marking around the island and as Mr Hanley mentioned, the PEP workers appointed for the job will be trained by officers of the Traffic Department and other personnel who have been carrying out such activities, including those from Her Majesty’s Prison.
“We are going to be brightening up the lines, the restriction parking and we are happy to be in a position to continue to be partnering with the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, specifically at this time, the Traffic Department,” observed Mr Hanley.
“In previous times we would have had the graduation of some Island Constables and I think it is quite fitting for me to express our sincere gratitude for the support we have been receiving from the Commissioner of Police and his other High Command in regards to the partnership because 14 persons who have been on the PEP have been duly inducted as police constables and we are grateful for this partnership.”
Presenting the Field Lazer S200 Professional Field Marking Equipment to Inspector Caines on behalf of the PEP Management Team, and the entire PEP Family, the Project Manager said it gave him great pleasure to do so, knowing that the machine would make work easier for the Traffic Department in its quest to brighten the markings on roads.
“With this machine assisting in highlighting all road markings, we will see a reduction probably in accidents and probably an increase in ticketing,” said Mr Hanley. “So it gives us a great pleasure to present this machine to the Traffic Department and we look forward to further partnership.
“I am quite certain that the persons who would be assigned specifically to this department they too would one day become police officers. Thanks, and all the best – your Christmas gift.”
In response, Inspector Carl Caines who was flanked by Police Corporal Elvin Browne and Police Constable Charles Cornelius during the short handing over ceremony, on accepting the Field Lazer S200 machine thanked the PEP official on behalf of the Licensing Authority and Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force.
“We are delighted this morning to receive this machine that will be used for good purposes,” said Inspector Caines. “I can promise you this morning that we will use it for our advantage in that it will be used to brighten the roads and to ensure that safety and all the necessary precautions are in place to inform the public and to warn the public as the case might be.
“I want to thank those persons responsible and we are looking forward for the continued partnership and the goodwill and I must dare to say Christmas has come early for the Traffic Department, Mr Hanley. I want you to convey our sincere gratitude on behalf of the Licensing Authority to those persons who made it possible for us to have this machine.”
The head of the Traffic Department observed that they originally had over 50 PEP personnel, among them about 40 crossing guards. Their working conditions were enhanced when PEP presented them with highly reflective safety vests and hand-held stop signs earlier this year.
“I still have most of them, but a few have moved on to permanent jobs elsewhere,” said Inspector Caines. “We will not be using the same people that we have for the road marking project as Mr Hanley is bringing some young men out there on the streets who are not working. We will train them on how to carry out their new duties.”