Editor-in-Chief concludes allegations made to besmirch Liburd's good name
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – MEMBERS of the Police Advisory Group (PAG) of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force are calling on National Security Minister Sam Condor for a thorough investigation into corruption allegations levelled against Deputy Commissioner Stafford Liburd.
A letter purportedly written by disgruntled members of the PAG to the National Security Minister dated March 18, 2011, referred to a front page article of the St. Kitts-Nevis Observer dated January 28, 2011, which levelled corrupt activities against Liburd, and his subsequent response on Winn FM’s February 9, 2011 newscast.
“We are well aware Sir, that you are well au-fait of those allegations and in essence any allegations, especially those of corrupt activities made against any member of the Police Force, more so, the High Command must be dealt with in an expeditious manner so as to dampen and lessen any damaging or negative effect on the good image of the organisation,” the members said.
The members also said they are demoralised and could not effectively meet as a body to discuss policies that would enhance the image of the force, because they are aware that they have “a member in our midst in the person of Mr. Stafford Liburd, Deputy Commissioner of Police, who has admitted to have been corrupted, tainted, who lacks integrity, honesty and credibility and the moral aptitude to lead”.
The group’s members quoted the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy and noted that society holds law enforcement officers in high esteem and would not condone criminal behaviour from those sworn to protect them and their property.
The members noted the Observer stated that while acting in the capacity of Commissioner of Police during Austin Williams’ absence, Liburd received US$240 000 from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) as payment to soldiers and police officers who had worked during the World Cup matches. Each officer was to receive US$1 100.
“However, in a meeting with Police Advisory Group, the Deputy Commissioner was very adamant that he received only US$239 000 from the West Indies Cricket Board. He never showed anyone of us the cheques, but he told us that he received three cheques. One cheque was current for the payment of US$100 000 and two cheques were post dated January 31, 2011 and February 28, 2011 in the sum of US$100 000 and US$39 000 respectively. He told us further that he was advised by the West Indies Cricket Board that the two cheques that were post dated were as a result of certain financial constraint on the Cricket Board,” the group said.
The PAG declared that the money was not disbursed to all those who worked at the cricket matches and many individuals who were not assigned duties were handsomely paid.
“Many officers who are stationed in the Nevis Division who never set a foot in St. Kitts to work at any of the cricket matches received thousands of dollars. Also, twenty officers in St. Kitts who were assigned specific duties with the teams, the Deputy Commissioner called six of these officers to his office and paid them so handsomely that these officers were able to travel to the United States of America for thanksgiving and shop till they drop while the other fourteen officers were so financially strapped that they had to source funds from financial institutions to take care of their love one during the Christmas season,” the letter read.
“What even hurts us to the core,” it continued, “is that many of the officers who the Deputy Commissioner paid, claimed that they had ailments and could not work at the cricket and did not work at the cricket but got paid thousands of dollars and to date as we speak the hard working men and women who worked to ensure that the cricket matches took place without a hitch are yet to receive a dime. Mr. Minister, is not this type of action real undiluted police corruption?”
The group stressed that Liburd’s behaviour hurts so badly that subordinates would visit the members to express their disgust and shock on the issue, but “we remain helpless”.
“Instead the Deputy Commissioner paid these officers the monies owed to them, he instead convene every pending disciplinary charges in the force against many of these officers and set dates for their trial and threatened to recommend their dismissal from the force if he find them guilty since they are arguing for money. Mr. Minister, why are you allowing this naked corruption not only to take place but to fester under your vigilant watch?’ the letter read.
The group also declared that many officers were fired by Liburd for minor acts of dishonesty and lesser evils, but he has stolen US$240 000 from them.
“Are you aware that he put US$75 000 of our money into his private bank account and he is living fat like a hog while we remain poor and needy and cannot pay our utilities and hire purchases that are in arrears and put food in our hungry children mouths?” the group asked Minister Condor.
The PAG members have made an earnest appeal to Minister Condor not only to restore public trust in the force, but to also assure them that the matter would be speedily and thoroughly investigated “so that professionalism, honesty and integrity can once again be the hallmark of the Police High Command and other police officers of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force”.
However, SKNVibes’ Editor-in-Chief is of the view that the allegations in the letter are the deliberate act of a disgruntled individual or group from within the RSCNPF who intends to besmirch the Deputy Commissioner’s good name.
Investigations have revealed that monies were indeed paid for the security provided during the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup not only to St. Kitts, but to all the other countries in which matches were played.
These monies, however, were not paid to Commissioners of Police but to the higher authority of those countries. Therefore, to say that Liburd had received US$240 000, banked US$75 000 and handsomely paid six of the 14 officers who performed security duties is a blatant lie to sully his character.
Additionally, the PAG is made up of ranks not lower than Inspectors and, following investigations, most of them knew nothing about the letter and its contents. However, a reliable source from within the group said that an Inspector is suspected of drafting the letter and addressing copies to over 40 individuals, police groups and media houses in the Caribbean.
The source reminded that the current Commissioner of Police would soon be leaving the force and, according to the command structure, the Deputy Commissioner is his likely successor. He however added that the imminent vacancy was advertised and many individuals in the force do not want him to be their chief.
