Basseterre, St. Kitts (April 12, 2007): Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Immigration and Labour Mrs. Astona Browne said that the government is fulfilling its promise to upgrade police working conditions and upgrade the national security infrastructure.
She said this at the April 10th opening of the Frigate Bay Police Station which is now located in the refurbished Frigate Bay Development Corporation Building. The Permanent Secretary further noted that government will continue to give priority to the security needs of the nation and the interest of the forces that are charged with ensuring national safety. She encouraged residents to embrace the initiative and work together toward protecting personal investments including securing people, the community and the nation as a whole.
Minister of National Security, Immigration and Labour Honourable G. A. Dwyer Astaphan noted that the role of the officers of the St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force is very important. He said this is particularly so considering that there are certain negative elements in the society that encourage visitors to take part in illegal activities.
This includes persons who sell illegal drugs and those who take part in prostitution. He added that there was also the temptation to create noise pollution and engage in all types of shady behaviour in the Frigate Bay area, inclusive of the South East Peninsular. Minister responsible for National Security stressed that it was important for the police to convey the message that harassment, selling of drugs and other illegal operations would not be tolerated.
Minister Astaphan encouraged those gathered to use the occasion as a symbolic means of realizing that peacekeeping is fundamental to the tourism industry. He also called on the police officers to sharpen their efficiencies in all areas.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Stafford Liburd gave a brief history of the Frigate Bay Police Station which began as a police outpost. He said that from 1996 to 1998 the rental fees of the then outpost was being paid by the Hotel and Tourism Association but in 1998 the Government through the Ministry of National Security undertook that task.
The Acting Deputy Commissioner explained that in March 2007, the new Frigate Bay Police Station was able to move to its new premises.
He said that in order to commence the refurbishment of the new building, the Police High Command requested partial funding from the Ministry of Finance and said that they would seek funding or labour/workmanship outside of the ministry. Acting Deputy Commissioner Liburd said that arrangements were then made with Prison Superintendent Franklyn Dorsett to supply prisoners to undertake the construction work. Arrangements were then made with the hotels and restaurants in the Frigate Bay area to provide lunch for the prisoners as well as transportation to and from the construction site which was supplied by Public Works.
Commissioner of Police Robert Jeffers said that the Police Force recognized the important role that it played in Tourism development. He also acknowledged that Frigate Bay is the lifeblood of the tourism industry considering that most major hotels were located in that area. He said the police force took its responsibilities very seriously and when there had been complaints it tried to address them to the best of their ability. In terms of cruise tourism, Commissioner Jeffers noted that one of the strategies undertaken by police officers was to place additional patrols along the South East Peninsular. He thanked the Defense Force and Lt. Colonel Patrick Wallace for partnering with the police in that venture.
