BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, July 10, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) — The aggressive recruiting campaign employed by the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, under the Team Unity administration, is paying dividend as close to two hundred (200) officers have joined the rank and file of the law enforcement agency over the last five years.
This was disclosed by Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, when he addressed the closing ceremony for the Police Recruits Course No. 44 on Thursday, July 9, at the St. Kitts Marriott Ballroom.
“You all should feel an immense sense of accomplishment and satisfaction to be among the cohort of new graduates from the Police Training Complex, which since 2015 has graduated, I am advised, 167 new members of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force from five training courses. Today, we have assembled for the closing ceremony of Course No. 44, the sixth training course since 2015, which will see 25 new recruits join our police force,” Prime Minister Harris said in his featured remarks.
The 25 recruits that passed out on Thursday brought the total number of police graduates to 192 from six training courses.
The honourable prime minister also used the occasion to encourage young, energetic persons, who are looking for a rewarding profession, to consider a career in law enforcement.
He added, “I am advised that we have space for some 30 new recruits, and so we would want all those who are interested in a career in law enforcement to send their applications in. Already, applications are being received and are being processed but we are looking for young, talented and interested citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis…to come to take the charge.”
Speaking specifically of Course No. 44, Prime Minister Harris said he is particularly pleased with the increase in the number of females who have accepted the call to lead, protect and serve.
Nine females out of a total of 25 recruits graduated from Course No. 44. That number is up from the three females that graduated Course No. 43 last year.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 7, 2020 (SKNIS): Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security of St. Kitts and Nevis, Osmond Petty, says that the responsibilities of an immigration officer does not change in the climate of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr. Petty expressed this during his speech at the Opening of Immigration Training for Newcomers held at the Customs Department’s conference room on July 6.
“COVID-19 would have changed how certain things are done, how you may interact with somebody who may have come in from a country which has a high level of cases,” he said. “However, this does not mean that you are not going to be professional in your approach in dealing with these situations.”
The Permanent Secretary said that some of the responsibilities of the Immigration Department are to provide an efficient and professional service to all persons at arriving and departing ports, to prevent the illegal entry of persons, to liaise with local, regional and international agencies, and to be seen to discharge all functions in a cautious and friendly manner.
]]>BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, June 24, 2020 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris has been publicly recognized for his strong leadership as Minister of National Security throughout the first term of the Team Unity administration, and for how his leadership and commitment has translated to reductions in crime and violence and an improved sense of peace and safety across the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hilroy Brandy, while making an appearance on the popular virtual forum series Leadership Matters on Tuesday, June 23, told the nation that he has been able to depend on the wisdom, advice and commitment of Prime Minister Harris on matters of national security during his stint as acting police commissioner and when he was later appointed as the country’s Commissioner of Police as at June 01, 2019.
“As the Commissioner of Police, I have been working closely with the prime minister, who also serves as the Minister of National Security, and I must thank him for his efforts. He has proven to be one of the most helpful and supportive Minister of National Security that I have ever worked with,” stated Commissioner Brandy.
He added, “We can usually depend on a favourable response when we make requests for various types of assistance, and we can see his commitment to ensure that St. Kitts and Nevis is safe when we look at the investments in areas such as the forensic lab, the new police stations, the closed circuit TV programme, new police vehicles and the US$150,000 investment in our comparison microscope, among other things.”
The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has made significant and targeted increases in budgetary allocation to the Ministry of National Security in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019.
The total budgetary allocation for National Security for 2020 was $99.2 million—63.5 million for recurrent expenditure and 35.7 million for capital expenditure, which is a 5 percent increase over 2019.
Commissioner Brandy concluded that after everything is considered, Prime Minister Harris “has shown great leadership as the Minister of National Security.”
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