The General Public is hereby informed that a number of Police Officers from the St Christopher Divisions of the Royal St Christopher and Nevis Police Force were assigned for duty in Nevis for the by-election which took place on that Island on Monday 27th August, 2007 as part of the usual operations for major events in the Federation.
The High Command of the Police Force takes these decisions from time to time as part of its administrative and managerial remit. It was felt that the by-election was an event which warranted additional Officers given the need to provide security for the long day at the polls and for the evening of counting, in addition to other critical and regular security duties which are to be performed by the Police Officers already based on Nevis so as to provide the security necessary to support the Island’s regular governmental, economic, and social activities..
No members of the St Kitts & Nevis Defence Force were deployed to Nevis to assist with security for the said by-election,
During the course of the polling, there were a few incidents, none considered by the Police to be major, although some possessed potential to escalate. All of these incidents required the attention of the Police, and Police Officers involved themselves, by all official reports reaching the Police High Command, in a professional manner, providing no reason whatever for any citizen, acting reasonably and lawfully, to presume, or to conclude that Police Officers conducted themselves outside of the scope of their legal and ethical mandate.
The only interest of the Police Force in the said by-election would have been to maintain law and order.
Accordingly, if any person has information in support of any claim of wrongdoing by any Police Officer in relation to the performance of his or her duty during the course of the said by-election, such person is hereby requested to report such information to the Acting Police Commissioner, Mr. Stafford Liburd, at Force Headquarters in Basseterre at Telephone No. 465 2241 or 465 2045
End of Release
