BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE rank and file of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force will be celebrating its 50th year of “dedicated and unbroken service to the community and the entire world”.
A press release issued by the Police Press and Public Relations Officer, Inspector Vaughan Henderson, explains that the activities commemorating the milestone would stretch over the entire year and held under the theme, “Forging Greater Partnerships between Police and the Community for improved security.”
The slogan, “Community Service to all – 50 on call”, was adopted for use during the observance. The catchy phrase, as the release explains, was penned by Lydia Phillip of Pond Hill, Nevis, winner of the Force’s slogan competition.
The release also gave a brief background on the formation of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force: “Prior to 1960 it was the Leeward Islands Police Force which was established in the 1833 and then on the 1st January 1960 the Royal St. Christopher-Nevis and Anguilla Police Force was established. Then in 1967 the struggle for Anguilla’s separation from St. Kitts began and in 1969 the British Armed forces took control of Anguilla but it was not until 1978 that there was an order in counsel making Anguilla a crown colony again. This had the effect of officially separating Anguilla from St. Kitts and Nevis and so what we have now is the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force.”
The activities in observance of the Force’s Golden Anniversary will begin on Sunday, January 10 with a church service at the St. George’s Anglican Church. This service will commence at 8:00 in the forenoon and is to be followed by a route march through the streets of Basseterre.
Inspector Henderson, in speaking with this media house, explained that along the route, the uniformed body would give salute to the Governor General Sir Cuthbert Sebastian; the Prime Minister of the Federation, Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas; and the Commissioner of Police, Austin Williams.
The march will culminate at the Basseterre Police Station, where a toast will be made in the recreation room.
Other activities which would be held throughout the year include a sports day, a debating competition, a passing out/graduation ceremony, lectures at schools, the production of a magazine, social activities and dance, island-wide bike ride, dinner/awards ceremony and beating of the retreat and baton swinging.
The PRO has promised to update “the general public about the activities with a view to keeping everyone informed” as the year progresses.
