BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – COMMISSIONER OF POLICE Ian Queeley held his first Commissioner’s Parade yesterday (Mar. 17) since being appointed to that rank some five weeks ago.
The traditional parade saw five platoons of officers – one from the Tactical Unit, two male platoons, one female platoon and one platoon of recruits – engaging in salutes to the Chief, drills and a route march through the streets of Basseterre.
The troops assembled on Lozack Road, marched across to the Police Training Complex where Commissioner Queeley inspected the ranks and took the salute, after which a 45-minute display of foot and arms drills took place.
Speaking with this publication, Commissioner Queeley described the exercise as “a returning initiative” that has several objectives.
“That is one of the returning initiatives where I would be on a regular basis inspecting the ranks, and the object is to ensure that the persons are properly and uniformly outfitted. It is also a form of discipline. The drill is said to be the foundation of discipline and discipline is one of the things that I would not only like to promote, but also to ensure that it is a cornerstone of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force.
“It also gives me as the Commander an opportunity to interact with the troops. During this exercise, in particular, we addressed the men in terms of their obligation, thanked them for their hard work over the past weeks and encouraged them to put their best foot forward in ensuring that we keep up the fight against crime.”
He said after that part of the exercise, the troops uniformly exited the compound, proceeded across the Bay Road, up Fort Street and it culminated at Government Headquarters.
The Commissioner told SKNVibes that the exercise would be carried out at least once every quarter and whenever it is done in St. Kitts it would be replicated in Nevis.
A similar exercise is expected to be conducted on that island next week Thursday (Mar. 25).
