BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – If we permit an illegal weapon to enter this country, who will that weapon kill?
That was the question posed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DPC), Stafford Liburd, to 10 security officers of the St. Christopher Air and Sea Port Authority (SCASPA) at the closing ceremony of a three-week Port Constable Training Course conducted by the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force.
The ceremony was held in conjunction with a Presentation of Chevrons to 22 security officers from SCASPA on Friday afternoon (Feb. 3) at the Police Training Complex in Basseterre.
In answering the question, DCP Liburd said, “Probably one of our family, relatives or friends.”
He told the Port Constables that the success of security in St. Kitts and Nevis depends enormously on cooperation between the various security agencies and individuals, and that illegal activities at the ports must not be condoned.
“We should not feel comfortable in having knowledge of illegal activities occurring in our Federation and not to inform the relevant authorities or persons in whom you have trust. Even if it occurs away from the port, please join the Police Force, the Defence Force and the Customs Department in ensuring that we have a safer Federation. Commissioner Walwyn looks forward to the Port Constables in assisting the organisations that I have just mentioned.”
Earlier in his address, DCP Liburd reminded the successful participants who the main players were in securing the country’s ports of entry.
“Decades ago, the Police Force and the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force were the main sector that focused on security in the Federation. Even though, to some extent, that is still the reality, we are seeing other agencies emerging far more strongly, not stronger than, but certainly being far more involved.
“We can recall that police officers were the ones who physically worked at the port security under the banner of the Special Constable, because I as a supervisor in the middle management of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force would have had to visit them. Therefore, it is no surprise that the St. Christopher Air and Sea Port Act of 1983 gave powers to the Commissioner of Police for the Superintendents of the then Port and Port Constables.”
He noted that since then some adjustments were made as Port Constables continue to develop as an integral part of security at the ports.
“They are joining with the Customs and the Police Department in the quest of improving security at the Federation’s ports of entry, and through cooperation and vigilant officers at our ports of entry, we can all stem or reduce the flow of restricting illegal or unlawful items entering or leaving our Federation.”
The Deputy Commissioner charged the Port Constables to speak out and act in the name of the law when they see and/or hear something, and “say something when your instinct is telling you that something illegal or suspicious may be occurring in and around the ports that threatens our safety and security in the Federation”.
The course was aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the officers in knowing various aspects of the Laws of St. Kitts-Nevis, and to know as well as to enforce protocol that the Federation had signed on to in order to ensure the safety of the country’s air and sea ports.
Commandant of the Police Training Complex, Inspector Lionel Moore was the course’s Chief Facilitator and he was ably assisted by Sergeant Eldrin Dickenson and Constable Hanley.
There were also a number of guest speakers, including the OAS Representative to St. Kitts and Nevis, Starrett Greene, who lectured to the Port Constables on Professionalism.
According to Inspector Moore, the course commenced on January 16, 2012 and among the areas covered were Law Enforcement Code of Ethics, Disciplinary Code, Report and Statement Writing, Classification of Crime and Offences, Research on Historical Sites on the Federation, Instructions on the IPS Code, Dock 89733 cargo Convention 1944, Security Awareness and Access Control.
He noted that members of the Port Constabulary are the front door of the nation “because they are the first people visitors would make contact with and the last when departing. Therefore, they must be knowledgeable of the history of the Federation”.
Also addressing the Port Constables were SCASPA’s Chief Executive Officer Terrence Crossman, who congratulated the security personnel on their success and briefly stated what were management’s intentions.
“Over the past year in particular, we provided our security officers with a number of opportunities to expand their knowledge by participating in workshops locally and overseas. And it would seem at times that you are always on training; for almost every week there is some training going on at different levels, and I want to commend Mr. Raymond Cotton for insisting that you do get trained.”
He also thanked a number of persons who, in one way or another, contributed to the success of the Port Constables and, by extension, SCASPA.
“I extend gratitude to Mr. Cotton, the Security Manager; Mrs. Rogers, Human Resources Manager; Mr. Taylor, Operations Officer; Mr. Griffin, Civil Aviation Officer; the Supervisory and Administrative Staff; Commissioner of Police Celvin Walwyn for his willing and ready support; Inspector Lionel Moore and Sergeant Elvin Dickenson.”
McKuen Isaac, a former member of the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force, was adjudged the Best Graduating Student and Dwight Rawlins Best Presentation.
Among those present at the ceremonies were Assistant Commissioner of Police Ian Queeley; Police Press and Public Relations Officer Sergeant Stephen Hector, who was the Master of Ceremonies; Chaplain of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force Pastor Leroy Benjamin, who invoked God’s presence and blessings at the simple but very significant event.
