Federation’s Security Forces increase by 36
PC Watt, FO Williams-Most Outstanding Students

By VonDez Phipps
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WITH a scintillating display of precision drills, which drew loud applauses and cheers from a large gathering of spectators, 22 young men signalled the end of their training to become Constables of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF).

This event took place Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 28) on the Drill Square of the Police Training Complex, when, for the first time in the history of the Federation’s security forces, the RSCNPF and the St. Kitts-Nevis Fire and Rescue Services (SKNFRS) held a joint Passing Out Parade and Graduation Ceremony for their recruit training courses.

From among the 22 new Constables, 11 are from Dominica, five from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, four from St. Kitts and two from Grenada, while there was one female among the 14 newly-admitted officers to the ranks of the SKNFRS.

Constable 710 Jerry Watt was declared the Most Outstanding Student on the Police Recruit Course and was presented the Prime Minister’s Plaque as well as the coveted Baton of Honour; while Fire Officer Ersdainne Williams carted off the Prime Minister’s Award for being the Most Outstanding Student on SKNFRS’ Recruit Course.

In his address to the new ranks, Commissioner of Police Austin Williams stressed that officers should be proud of their new “permanent name tag” and underscored that in reality, enforcing the law is only one quarter of what the officers would be doing.

“If all you did was to enforce the law, you would be useless for at least three quarters of the time. You will be the first to arrive on the scenes of medical emergencies and asked to start CPR on a heart attack victim or try and stop the bleeding of someone who was injured.

You will respond to traffic accidents and tend to people’s broken bodies, and when things don’t turn out as you would like, it would be your job to deliver the news.

You will help the elderly to their feet when they have fallen and can’t get up and may be called upon to even rescue animals. This is not enforcing the law, but it is very much law enforcement.

“I believe you chose this job because you want to help people and give back to your communities. You are members of the community who realise that sometimes there are things to be done but are not easy to do, and you think you have the courage to do the job and want to protect your family friends and neighbours.

So, remember the reason you chose this job. The citizens and visitors are our greatest assets, as they would praise you when you do well and support you when things are not going too well.”

Commissioner Williams noted that too often complaints are received in relation to inappropriate police action; something he says “we do not need”. Williams further stated that he would handsomely reward officers for good dedicated police work but, at the same time, would not hesitate to “bring down the hammer” on officers who abuse their authority and office.

Williams thanked the 18 young men from the neighbouring islands for the “bold step they have taken in serving our nation” and urged all of the new officers to “go back to your communities and enforce the law!”