BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – DESPITE a low turnout, the town hall meeting between residents of Cayon and a Security Forces’ delegation headed by Commissioner of Police Celvin ‘CG’ Walwyn was very fruitful.
The meeting, which was scheduled for 4:00 p.m. yesterday (May 5) at the Cayon Community Centre, had a late change in venue and some residents claimed not to have known about it.
However, those who were present at the new venue, Cayon Primary School, were very candid about the modus operandi of some officers based at the Cayon Police Station.
They informed the Commissioner of the lackadaisical attitude exhibited by some officers when reports were made at the station, including serious crimes.
In addition to the officers’ attitude to reports, one resident noted that many people are afraid to give them information because of the lack of confidentiality.
Another resident stated that when the recently-promoted Inspector Carl Caines was stationed in Cayon, a very amicable relationship had existed between the two parties and officers were regularly seen on foot patrolling the community.
To this revelation, the attendees pleaded for Caines’ return, noting that officers stationed there should be acquainted with all the nooks and crannies that some people use as escape routes after committing criminal acts.
One individual highlighted that some mothers in the community are aware of crimes committed by their children, especially males, but they harbour them and give tacit approval to their deviant behaviour. He therefore suggested that the Ministry of Social Development should implement a programme to educate those women on the values of parenting.
After listening to the numerous complaints and suggestions, Commissioner Walwyn told the gathering that he would put measures in place to address their concerns.
He however informed them that he became troubled by what he had seen in Cayon and the village is under the police microscope, noting that some people in the community are counterfeiting US currency and planting marijuana for wholesale purposes. He added that in recent times “one was killed and two others shot. It is a very bad thing. People know who is committing the crime but they keep their mouths shut”.
The Commissioner told the gathering that members of the “Delta Squad are on the ground to supplement the police and people must speak to the police”.
He also told them that if the distrust of officers at the Cayon Police Station persists, they should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 (TIPS) with any information that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of criminals.
He further told them that they had nothing to fear because by calling Crime Stoppers, which is based in the USA, only the country’s code would be visible and the receiver of any call would not request the name or other forms of identity from the caller.
In an effort to convince the residents of his sincerity concerning confidentiality, Commissioner Walwyn told them that they could call him any time of the day or night (except after midnight), and he provided them with cards upon which all of his contact numbers were written as well as his email address.
Speaking with him today, SKNVibes asked how he thought the meeting went.
“I think it was a very good meeting. It was part of our initiative with community policing. I tried to spread the message here in the Federation that crime and public safety is everybody’s business. The police cannot do it alone, and the people said they didn’t feel good sometimes with the police and the way that they operate. But we also have in the police station a unit that handles complaints.
“The Cayon meeting was very fruitful because, in speaking with the people, we understood there were some shortcomings with the police. Those we have to address. If the police and the community are not working together, then everybody loses. Because what we learnt there yesterday is that some people would rather see another person shot and step over them. One person made that comment because it was not their family. But who is to say tomorrow after you stepped over that person yesterday the next bullet would not hit you.
“And again, I keep telling people, ‘You have to live within this Federation…you have a part to play in reducing crime. If you choose to turn your face the other way, then next day might be yours. You can’t cry!’”
Speaking to the complaints made by the residents, Walwyn stated that he had received many of them since he was appointed Commissioner of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force.
“We had quite a few complaints last year but most of them were unfounded. And one of the reasons they were unfounded is because people at the time were not accustomed to the police enforcing the law. So, once the police started enforcing the law, they started getting upset. Well, tell them get used to getting upset because we are going to keep enforcing the law.”
He explained that the police have to go to the community and that he does not believe in violating people’s civil rights. “I have no record of doing that since I have been here. I have had complaints, but they have been unfounded in the end.”
Getting back to the question of his thoughts about the meeting, the Commissioner said, “One of the things that we heard yesterday in Cayon was about marijuana. People must understand that we are law enforcement and until the law changes we will enforce the law. If you are growing marijuana in your yard or on government property and we find it, we will eradicate it. And if you are there we will arrest you for being in possession of it. So you need to understand that we are here to stay and you need to abide by the law just as we are expected to.
Because of not reaching the amount of people he anticipated, Commissioner Walwyn declared that he would love to revisit the community.
“We would like to go back there within a month if they will accept us, because it was very important what was said yesterday that it got to everybody. Cayon is a place right now if not taken care of will turn into a hot bed. I wasn’t here when McKnight happened, but I am here with Cayon and I am going to make sure whatever we can do we will do to avoid that from happening. Now we know that these young men are fighting each other, we also know the reasons and we have taken steps to assist, which I can’t go into. But Cayon right now is under the microscope of the Police Force.
Among those present at yesterday’s town hall meeting was the Parliamentary Representative for the area, the Hon. Eugene Hamilton, who endorsed what the resident said about some mothers and gave his commitment to assist the police in the fight against crime.
