BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A Constable, who was charged with “Discreditable Conduct” in 2007, will soon have to seek employment elsewhere as it was recommended that he be dismissed from the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF).
Last week, SKNVibes received information that some two weeks earlier the officer appeared before a Police Disciplinary Tribunal in Nevis, which recommended his dismissal.
When contacted on Friday (Jul. 30) for a comment, Acting Commissioner of Police Stafford Liburd confirmed the recommendation but declined to name the officer. However, SKNVibes learned from informed sources that the officer is 573 Constable Alister Huggins.
“In a recent disciplinary trial in Nevis, an officer’s dismissal was recommended. I am not prepared to identify the officer or discuss the circumstances that led to such recommendation,” Liburd said.
It was reported that Huggins allegedly stole a sum of money from the residence of a member of the Bobo Shanty Rastafarian group during a search conducted by the security forces of which he was a member.
The general public cried for justice when the news broke and, following investigations, Huggins was charged with “Discreditable Conduct” on Thursday, October 4, 2007. He was subsequently posted to the Nevis Division and there was a mixed feedback from the public.
“It shows that they are really trying to clean up the Police Force and the rule still exists that if you do the crime, you do the time,” one individual stated.
“A lot of criminals in the Force; that is why there are so many criminal activities. Time enough they start to weed them out,” another added.
The High Command had however reassured that the Force does not condone any activity by any officer that discredits the good name of the Police Force, as they continue to work assiduously to regain the harmonious relationship they once had with the public.
Unconfirmed reports indicated that Huggins’ recommended dismissal would have been implemented since 2007 following an internal investigation. But he was transferred to the Nevis Division in order to have him out of the public’s view in St. Kitts, while, at the same time, he was awaiting an important trial in court where he was a major witness.
Constable Huggins is not the only officer that has brought the RSCNPF into disrepute concerning the professionalism and integrity of some of its members.
In early July this year, Constable Kern Cabey of Parray’s Village, St. Peters was slapped with two charges – Larceny and Possession with Intent to Injure.
On Thursday, January 14, 2010, this media had received information that about 6:45 p.m. three armed, unidentified men had stolen a shotgun from the Fire Hall at the RLB International Airport.
Reports indicated that the three men had cut a hole in the northern fence of the airport compound, stuck up a member of the Fire and Rescue Services who was on duty, and fired a number of shots before stealing the shotgun.
It is alleged that Cabey was among the trio and the almost six-month investigation has led to his arrest and subsequent charges.
On Friday, November 27, 2009, Constable Jonathan Carbon of Dominica was remanded to prison for allegedly selling a firearm and a quantity of ammunition to Case Hamilton of Gingerland, Nevis.
It was reported that on Friday, October 9, 2009, three firearms and a quantity of ammunition were discovered missing from the Gingerland Police Station, where Carbon was based. Among the missing firearms was a .38 revolver, which police discovered with six matching rounds of ammunition in Farm Estate, Nevis on Friday, November 20, 2009.
And in early 2010, a Dominica-born police officer stationed on Nevis allegedly physically abused a female on that island. He has since absconded, leaving the woman with just the memory of her abuse and a denial of justice.
