BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – COMMISSIONER OF POLICE Ian Queeley sees the role of the National Security Advisor as a compliment to the security Force’s crime fighting initiatives, and he has debunked the allegation that it would compromise his role as head of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force.
Queeley made this pronouncement last Thursday (Aug. 24) in response to a question posed by a reporter during a press conference held at the Police Training Complex in Basseterre.
He was asked if he could clear the air on the suggestion made by the Opposition St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) that the role of the National Security Advisor would basically compromise his work.
“The National Security Advisor is a constitutional post created, and I do not, in any way, shape or form, see how it can compromise my job as Commissioner of Police,” Queeley said. “As a matter of fact, I see it as being complimentary with the National Security Advisor.”
The top cop stressed that he does not agree with the suggestion and that the role of the National Security Advisor would dictate that it is only natural for the holder of that posit to have dialogue with the heads of the Federation’s security forces.
“In his capacity as the National Security Advisor, it is only natural that he would have dialogue with the Commissioner of Police and the heads of other agencies that fall within the ambit of National Security. But I do not agree with the statement that the National Security Advisor’s role is in conflict in any way with that of the Commissioner of Police. And I want to say again that I think it would be a compliment to our crime fighting initiatives.”
Jamaican-born Retired Major General Stewart Saunders was recently appointed the Federation’s National Security Advisor by the Team Unity Administration, and Leader of the SKNLP the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas had said that his appointment could lead to politicisation of the security forces.
He said Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris had abrogated the responsibilities of the Commissioner of Police and Commander of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force through the appointment of Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Saunders as National Security Advisor.
“The Prime Minister, in responding to people's concerns with regard to Major General Stewart Saunders of the Jamaica Defence Force being appointed as National Security Advisor, said in the National Assembly that Saunders will not be a part of the Police Force and security forces generally, and will not give any directive or any instruction to the Commissioner of Police or the Commander of the Defence Force.
“What Timothy Harris said to us in Parliament and to the nation is that the Major General will advise Harris and then, on advising Harris, Harris will then direct the Commissioner of Police and the Commander of the Defence Force.
“In other words, Harris has abrogated the responsibilities of the Commissioner and the Commander through a national security advisor. That is what we have been saying all along. The police have been politicised.”
However, in a meeting with representatives of the religious community, PM Harris, who is also the Minister of National Security, had said that the role of the National Security Advisor is a very important one in the national security structure which fulfils a requirement of law and the Federation’s Constitution.
“He (Maj. Gen. Saunders) is not the Commissioner of Police, he is not the Commander of the Defence Force, he is not the Superintendent of Prisons, but all of these are, as it were, security agencies fulfilling their own mandate.
“What the framers of the Constitution contemplated was that they needed somebody who could coordinate the activities between and among all these national security agencies so that we could have a wholesome product. We have realised the necessity of that.”
Saunders had retired in October 2010 as the Chief of Defence of the Jamaica Defence Force and Dr. Douglas had said he was aware that a Commission of Inquiry was conducted into the Major General’s performance in what was called “The Tivoli Gardens Massacre”.
The Tivoli Gardens Massacre occurred over a three-day period in Jamaica. It began on May 23, 2010 when members of the Police and Defence Forces, in a joint operation, went to arrest convicted Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke in Tivoli Gardens and had met with armed resistance by the Shower Posse gang in support of the drug kingpin.
According to media reports, 74 civilians were killed, at least 35 were wounded and more than 500 arrests were made. Reports also stated that four soldiers/police officers were also killed. But during the Inquiry, on Thursday, November 5, 2015, the Jamaica Observer had reported that Superintendent Brown Ellis told the Commission that only 69 were killed and the additional five were treated as homicides.
Dr. Douglas had also said that while it might be true that Saunders has experience and is a well-trained cop, if the finding of the Commission of Inquiry has labelled him to be unfit to ever hold office in the Police Force in Jamaica, why is he being given a top position in St. Kitts and Nevis?
The Opposition Leader also said: “I am confident in my mind that Dr. Harris wants COP (Ian Queeley) to fail, because he has a sinister plan that after the probationary two-year period is up, he is going to fire Queeley. That is what he is leading to. That is why he has brought in the advisor.
But PM Harris pointed out that following the Tivoli Gardens’ Commission of Inquiry, in 2012 Saunders was appointed Senior Consultant/Advisor in National Security matters and later held the post of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of national Security in Jamaica.
He also stated that Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Saunders has over 40 years of distinguished public service dealing with crime at the operational, strategic and policy levels, noting that he has brought to the Federation a wealth of experience in the management of natural and man-made disasters, crime management, public safety and security, crisis management, security and risk assessments.
“Major General Saunders has been highly recommended by the Executive Director of CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security, as well as Senior Government and military referees in Jamaica from the agencies where he has worked,” an SKNIS statement said.
