COP says vehicle must only be used within Frigate Bay & Southeast Peninsula
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – OFFICERS based at the Frigate Bay Police Outpost are now better equipped to patrol areas within that community and the Southeast Peninsula, following the acquisition of a brand new vehicle donated by the Coalition of Support for St. Kitts-Nevis Security Initiatives (CSSKNSI).
The event took place yesterday (Oct. 11) at a simple but very significant and timely ceremony held at the Frigate Bay Police Outpost.
The keys to the vehicle, a 2011 Toyota Fortuner valued at over EC$100 000), were handed over to Commissioner of Police Celvin Geron ‘CG’ Walwyn by LeGrand Elebash, Chief Operating Officer for Christophe Harbour.
According to Jodi Peeler, Assistant Dean, External Relations & Communications at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM), two members of the CSSKNSI – RUSVM and Christophe Harbour – had jointly contributed 75 percent with the additional 25 percent funded from the Police Force for the purchase of the patrol vehicle.
In his address to the gathering, which included Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas, Ministers Dr. Asim Martin and Richard Skerritt as well as Deputy Commissioner of Police Stafford Liburd and Assistant Commissioner Joseph Richardson, Elebash said the vehicle was donated with the aim of keeping St. Kitts safe.
“The vehicle provided today is rugged, built to last and will assist the police force in watching the streets. Our Coalition believes in partnership and working together and we ask nothing in return, except that the vehicle be used to keep St. Kitts safe. We contribute to this initiative with pride and belief in progress to which the vehicle will only be a small part,” Elebash added.
In response to the gesture, Commissioner Walwyn thanked the corporate citizens and declared that it was his intention to seek the business community as partners.
“This is a great moment for the Federation and for the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force. One of the key things that I wanted when I came here was to become business partners with the business community.
“I want to thank the Coalition for their confidence in creating this change…the confidence built from our local and overseas business supporters, the confidence in our police force and, most importantly, the confidence in ourselves as we can all create positive change, Walwyn said.”
Walwyn also said that he had accepted the appointment of Commissioner with the aim of making the Federation safer, while declaring that only with his permission would the vehicle leave the areas it was designated to patrol.
“I am here to make the community safer. I am here to make it better, not just for those who live here, but also for those who are not living here. I want to thank you all for you all for providing this vehicle. This vehicle will be used solely for the Frigate Bay area. This does not leave Frigate Bay unless it is going to get gas. This vehicle has been donated by the business community and it is going to be on the South East Peninsula and every place that the Frigate Bay Police Outpost has control of.”
Also addressing the gathering was Bill Hughson, President of the Healthcare Group for DeVry Inc., which is the parent company of RUSVM.
“Our businesses have come together to seek a strong partnership to improve safety and security in the Federation. The partnership is about working together and the shared responsibility goes beyond business and government; the responsibility lies with all of us,” Hughson said.
Prime Minister Douglas, who delivered the feature address, lauded the CSSKNSI for providing the vehicle and used the opportunity to thank the entire business community for its past and continued support.
“Thank you to the Coalition and the foreign investors it represents for stepping up to a need that has been identified. I also want to acknowledge and show appreciation to all of our local businesses, the NGOs and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, who are also supportive of anti-crime initiatives. Working together we can all fight crime in the Federation,” Dr. Douglas said.
He noted that the contribution from the CSSKNSI has been tremendous not only in terms of serving a particular need at a particular time, and that it is going to be long-lasting.
“It is going to make a significant difference in returning confidence of our own citizens…confidence of our investors, locally and overseas, into what we are seeking to do here in St. Kitts and Nevis. Confidence in our citizens of the police force, in our security forces, and confidence in ourselves as citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis that we can rise to the occasion with adequate support from our friends locally and abroad in tackling some of the serious social issues that confront us today,” he added.
PM Douglas stressed that with the demonstration of confidence in his government, the security forces, local businesses and non-governmental organisations as well as citizens and residents, together they could “tackle the problem that confront us as we continue to make life better for the people of St. Kitts and Nevis and for investors to come to our land”.
The 2011 Toyota Fortuner is expected to be put into official patrol rotation in about two weeks’ time after being equipped with police decals, emergency siren and lighting system typical of a patrol vehicle.
The Coalition of Support for St. Kitts-Nevis Security Initiatives includes Christophe Harbour, Cockleshell Bay Development, Four Seasons, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, St. Kitts Marriott Resort and Windsor University.
It was established to drive effective advocacy, change and progress in the areas of safety and security in St. Kitts and Nevis through one voice representing several organisations in the Federation.
The initiatives of the CSSKNSI is to provide funding and support to establish an acceptable level of safety and security throughout the Federation, create an environment conducive to the success of its represented businesses, and to significantly improve the effectiveness of government provided policing to curb the level of crime and violence negatively impacting the society.
