BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Commissioner of Police (COP), Celvin ‘CG’ Walwyn, was given commendation by the St. Kitts-Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CIC) for his leadership and positive impact on the Federation’s crime rate.
The acclamation was given on Wednesday (Feb. 22) at the CIC’s 63rd Annual General Meeting held at the Ocean Terrace Inn.
At the meeting, a resolution was passed which explained that the levels of violent crime and invasion of property offences are “still too high”. However, the Chamber and its members have noted several changes that have taken place since Walwyn’s appointment. These, they said, include an increase in the public’s confidence in the police.
“…the Chamber notes that in the past six months there has been a decline in serious crime in the Federation, that the rate of detection of offenders has increased substantially, that the police have been quicker to respond to reports of crime and show greater persistence and skill in the investigation of crime, that there has been a greater police presence in commercial areas, strong co-operation generally between law enforcement and other security forces, and that there has been improved communication with the public.”
It is in this vein that the Chamber expressed its gratefulness to COP Walwyn and its confidence that further results would be realised.
“The Chamber attributes the noted improvements directly to the leadership of Commissioner C.G. Walwyn and records its great appreciation of his expertise, dedication, management and public relations skills. The Chamber expresses full confidence in his capacity to bring about the further substantial reduction in criminal activity. The Chamber commits to continued cooperation with the Government and with the Commissioner and his senior officers and support generally for the work of the security forces to this end.”
COP Walwyn took command of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force on September 1, 2011 after the baton of authority was passed to him by former Commissioner of Police Austin Williams.
Prior to the commencement of his commissionership, Walwyn promised that within three months of taking the reins the organisation would have operated in a more efficient manner. He also promised that under his leadership, the crime rate in St. Christopher and Nevis would have decreased.
One of the decisions which the Commissioner took – which some have deemed as critical in the crime fight – was the formation of a special task force known as the Delta Squad. The squad comprises members of the police force and the St. Kitts Nevis Defence Force and is said to be “part of the ‘Zero Tolerance Take Back the Streets Initiative’”.
