Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 13, 2021 (RSCNPF): An emergency meeting was held at the Police Training School on Monday, April 12, 2021 at which the High Command of The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) met with Police Officers serving in the Federation who are natives of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss ways the High Command could assist the Officers who had family members and/or property in the red and orange zones in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and others who would be adversely affected otherwise. Commissioner of Police Hilroy Brandy outlined the options to the men and committed to helping them as much as possible.
“We want you to know that we are very concerned about you and your families and we will do everything that we can to help,” Commissioner Brandy assured the Officers.
“Your welfare is our welfare,” Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Andre Mitchell, said adding that many of them had given dedicated service to the country, some as much as thirty years.
ACP Adolph Adams asked them to hold on to faith. “We are brothers and sisters and in times of need we need to have each other’s backs,” he said.
ACP McCarta Browne told the Officers that he had respect for anyone who left their country and families behind in order to serve in law enforcement in another, noting that such a move deserved a “different kind of honour”. “Be strong and know that you have a High Command who cares and will go out of their way to help you,” he assured them.
Force Personnel Officer, Clifford Govia, informed the group that counselling services would be provided to those who needed it.
Representatives from the Police Welfare Association were also present. Its President, Sergeant Jerry Watts, assured them that the executive would be considering how the Association could help.
Inspector Reynold Myers, a national of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has served the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis with pride for close to thirty years. As a young boy, he had experienced the La Soufrière Volcano’s last eruption. Knowing the mental toll the current situation might be taking on his fellow Officers he offered words of motivation.
“I encourage you to keep morale high. This is not the time to drop your guard and be shaken,” Inspector Myers urged. “I must commend the High Command for this initiative. It’s good to see you are all here, but you still have to stay focused.”
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Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 22, 2020 (RSCNPF): Close to 30 newly trained Compliance and Task Force Officers were admonished by senior members of the Police Force to take their new positions seriously, and to act professionally, with safety always in mind.
At a brief closing ceremony at the Police Training School on September 18, Commissioner of Police, Hilroy Brandy, welcomed the trainees to the umbrella of National Security.
“I want to thank you for taking part in this training. I was made to understand that you were a good group, an intelligent group, and I’m looking forward to seeing results when you are posted at quarantine sites or as a compliance officers,” he said.
He implored the trainees to prepare themselves for the hard work ahead and to ensure that they are ready to dedicate their time and efforts to the job. He warned them about the importance of confidentiality, adding that they can be charged for leaking information.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) with responsibility for Operations, Adolph Adams, also welcomed the trainees to his directorate. He stressed the significant role that each of them would now play as part of the overall COVID-19 response.
“You’re being attached to the same type of job that I have been doing since the 29th of March, I can tell you that it will become one of the most difficult and challenging times of your life…..I want to encourage you to take this job seriously and be very careful while doing your job. I want you to be respectful to people….I would like you to be properly attired when you come to do the government’s work…,” ACP Adams said to the Officers.
Force Personnel Officer, Clifford Govia, thanked the Officers for their time and cooperation over the two weeks and wished them success in the field.
“Thank you for your cooperation and your support for the last two weeks and, as usual, we wish you much success and to remain safe. As we try to secure others in the country, the number one priority is also your safety and so we really want you to be alert, follow the rules as you discharge your duties professionally,” he said.
The trainees will be equipped with uniforms and the tools necessary to effectively execute their duties.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 26, 2020 (RSCNPF): A number of training sessions are being held to sensitize prosecutors and investigators on the transition away from Preliminary Inquiries (PI’s) to Committal Proceedings or “Paper Committals” for High Court cases.
The change took effect on July 24, 2020. The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Valston Graham, is presently facilitating the sessions. The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force is partnering with the DPP’s office for the initiative.
Officers from Division ‘C’ were the first to undergo this training which was held on July 21, in Nevis followed by Officers from Division ‘B’ on July 23. The Officers were educated on their roles in the new system, the importance of the change and the way forward with the collaboration between the Police and the DPP’s office.
Mr. Graham noted that the change is designed to reduce delays, backlogs and achieve greater efficiency in transmission of indictable cases to the High Court. He stressed the importance of having a good relationship between both offices to ensure a smooth transition.
“It is important that when you do your investigative aspects of the case, that you do your very best to ensure that the finished product that comes to me comes in a manner that really assists, not just with the preparation of the paper committal bundle, but also assist in terms of the presentation of the case before the court. So, our roles, while they may be separate, they definitely do overlap. What I want you to do is put your best foot forward in terms of the preparation of your case files…”
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) responsible for the Crime Directorate, Andre Mitchell, who was present at the sessions, explained that committal proceedings came about as a result of an amendment to the Magistrate Court of Procedures Act No. 4 of 2018.
The ACP disclosed that the training has been progressing quite well with the “Police Officers expressing a keen interest in the new and improved method of case file preparation.”
“Investigators are expected to exhibit a higher level of efficiency in the delivery of service when it comes to investigating and submitting case files, hence the need to sharpen their skills in key areas such as, for example, investigative interviewing and statement taking,” he said.
The participants engaged the DPP with several questions about this new procedure and ended the training with a keen knowledge on the way forward. The training for District ‘A’ is slated for July 28.
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