Police Force honours Jeffers and Charles
By Stanford Conway
Editor-in-Chief – SKNVibes.com
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| Retired Commissioner of Police Robert Jeffers in receipt of a plaque in honour of his dedicated service to the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force |
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - RETIRED Commissioner Robert Jeffers and former Deputy Commissioner Meredith Charles were honoured by officers and ranks of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force last Friday evening at the Force’s Annual Officers’ Mess Dinner held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.
Minister of National Security, Immigration and Labour Dwyer Astaphan commended Messrs. Jeffers and Charles for their yeomen service to the Force during his brief address to the large gathering, which included Senior Officers [from the rank of Inspector to Commissioner] and their spouses, Governor-General Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, Acting Deputy Governor-General Eustace John, Prime Minister Sam Condor, Leader of the Opposition Mark Brantley, members of the Diplomatic Corps, representatives of the business community, Retired Commissioner of Police Stanley Franks and Retired Deputy Commissioner Felix Hodge.
“I want to thank and commend former Commissioner Robert Jeffers, and with him Meredith Charles and the officers who served with his team. Former Commissioner Jeffers led the Force through very trying times. Not that the trying times have ended, they continue. But he had a difficult job to do and he had fitted himself in a very tough and effective manner,” Minister Astaphan said.
Astaphan said Jeffers took his responsibilities very seriously and led from the front. He described the former Commissioner as a strong character who ran the Force accordingly and “I think we have to salute him. Not just tonight, but through posterity for the yeoman service he has rendered to the Police Force and to this nation”. ~~Adz:Right~~
The Security Minister announced, to the pleasure of the audience, that he had recommended a portrait of Jeffers be painted and mounted in a prominent position in the police facility.
In addition to Astaphan’s announcement, Jeffers was presented a plaque that symbolised 41.7 years dedicated service to the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force. Deputy Commissioner Charles was also honoured with a similar plaque. However, he was not present at the function but Force Personnel Officer Wendell Wattley accepted it on his behalf.
In response, Jeffers thanked his successor, Austin Williams, and the men under his command for the honourable gesture and wished the new Commissioner success in his endeavours.
“I leave the Force without animosity against anybody. I leave the Force very happy! I have offered to Commissioner Williams and the whole of the Police High Command that I do not intend in any way to interfere in the running of the Police Force, but if any member of the Force, having gone through the proper channel, wants to seek the benefit of my years of experience, I am prepared to give it,” Jeffers said.
Jeffers declared that the Police Force was very instrumental in his development as the former Commissioner and also as an individual, and “I think it is only fair that I give back something and not keep it in my head”.
