BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – COMMISSIONER of Police Austin Williams has dispelled the rumour that the Police Bike Patrol Unit was established only for the protection of tourists who visit the shores of St. Kitts.
On October 26, 2006, the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force Bike Patrol Unit was officially launched and, according to then Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Stafford Liburd, as reported by the SUN St. Kitts Nevis Newspaper, it was established to extend the mobility of police officers.
He also explained that the Unit was created with “some linkage with the tourism industry…the police acknowledge that the tourism sector is important for the Federation. We also acknowledge that the presence of police in our villages is equally important and the constant presence of police through the Federation is imperative in the reduction of crime and disorder.”
During the 2008-2009 Tourist Season, members of the Unit were seen conducting routine patrols around the Basseterre area and, shortly thereafter, their presence and visibility dwindled into nothingness.
The obvious absence of the Unit’s operations, to which the people of the island have grown to appreciate, gave rise to a number of rumours, queries and concerns which suggest that the Unit’s main purpose of function is the protection of visitors.
This media house was approached on a number of occasions by concerned citizens who explained that while it is their hope that this is not the case, “it appears to be so”.
Commissioner Williams, in an exclusive interview with SKNVibes, explained that the Unit is intended to be a regular part of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force with the main aim of reducing petty crime in the Port Zante and Basseterre areas.
“Their purpose is to stretch over a longer distance and go into areas where vehicles can’t go and make quick maneuvers as required.”
He categorically denied that the Unit was birthed solely for the protection of tourists and offered an explanation for its absence during the tourist off season.
“We have to protect everybody and we detail and implement as we see necessary. As the demand presents itself, we detail and implement. At that moment, at that time, we had to withdraw the personnel from the Bike Unit to focus on other areas. We have a shortage of manpower at the moment and this is why we find it necessary to make certain changes. We do not value one set of people over another. All are important,” the Commissioner explained.
COP Williams commended the Bike Patrol Unit for its “good job over the period of its existence” and indicated that plans are afoot “to expand it in terms of manpower and scope. The next phase is to expand to the Frigate Bay area. At the Frigate Outpost, they conduct limited bike patrols but we are hoping to expand that scope.”
