Attorney General receives Commissioner Blades Report on Police sick-out
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St. Kitts and Nevis Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Hon. Dennis Merchant
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BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, DECEMBER 13TH 2007 (CUOPM) – The Report from the Commission of Inquiry into the failure of an unusual number of police officers to report for duty during a six-week period immediately before Independence Celebrations 2006 has been received,.
This was disclosed by Minister of State for Information, Sen. the Hon. Nigel Carty, following the routine Cabinet Meeting this week.
He said that the Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Hon. Dennis Merchant has informed the Cabinet that he has received Commissioner Blades’ Report on the inquiry into the alleged sickout of police officers last year.
“He (Attorney General) said he would convene a separate meeting with the High Command of the Police Force to discuss the findings and recommendations in the Report, and would also share information with the public on the report at a later date,” said Minister Carty.
The sickout resulted in the absence from duty of a number of police officers affected the opening of the New Law Term and the Independence Parade in both Nevis and St. Kitts last year.
In December last year, the Attorney General said it is hoped that the Report would provide assistance and guidance particularly at a stage of “our development as a nation, when we are expected to meet international standards as a venue for persons from all over the world.”
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Officers of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force on parade during the 2007 Independence Parade (Photos by Erasmus Williams)
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Mr. Merchant said then that the Commission of Inquiry which started Friday 8th December 2006 “is not an enquiry to vilify or denigrate any one or any institution,” and respectfully urged the general public to allow the exercise “to take its professional and legal course.”
The Commissioner was Mr. Charles Blades, a Retired Deputy Commissioner of the Barbados Police Force, with some 40 years experience.
