CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – A CALL has been made for the return of Police Week to the island of Nevis. It was made by Attorney-at-Law Oral Martin during his feature speech at the Nevis Division Police Constables Appreciation Awards Ceremony held on Saturday (Mar. 7) at the Old Manor Hotel.
According to Martin, Police Week is just one of the ways the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force could develop relationships with members of the community.
“Police Week is an opportunity to say to the public what policing is all about; to show another side of the police.”
According to Martin, “This is an opportunity to show that the police are not just men and women in uniform doing service, but these are people who have an interest in culture and who have talent and who want to communicate with you.”
Martin said he has fond memories of Police Week when officers performed on stage on the spot where the fire station now sits in Charlestown.
The lawyer also sees the establishment of a police marching band in Nevis as crucial to promoting improved relationships.
“From my experience, the public finds this very attractive and it is a great channel of communication from the police.”
Also proposed by Martin was the establishment of a police sports club and community policing groups.
He said a sports club allows for interaction with young people: “You’re playing with and against them. It relieves the tension that might be in the community between youngsters and the police.”
Martin made reference to Assistant Commissioner Joseph Liburd who he said was able to develop a certain relationship with young footballers by simply being a member of the football association, and being at the park when football was being played.
As regards to community policing, Martin said there was a time when police walked around in the villages, spoke with people and assisted them. He said this kind of involvement again provides the opportunity for developing relationships and is an important way of gathering intelligence and information.
“You see and hear things you won’t find out by sitting in the police station. When you are assisting people you gain a level of confidence that you won’t normally,” he said, “You know who they are in the community. If a crime is committed you have a good idea of who would have done it and who to eliminate, because you know them.”
Martin also saw the recent laying off by the Four Seasons Resort as an opportunity for the police force to recruit officers, if only on a temporary basis. He said the force could offer about 25-30 of these workers the opportunity to become special constables, with basic training.
The attorney said these special constables could assist in minor duties like traffic control, crowd control, community disputes and taking statements, which would allow the regular officers to concentrate on more difficult tasks. They could also provide a direct link with the community.
The officers awarded for outstanding service during 2008 were: 199 WPC Ornette Hendrickson, 292 PC Mitchell Hobson, 321 PC Sean John, 577 PC Leon Lake, 592 WPC Coretta Harris, 595 PC Delroy Harris, 621 PC Keith Pemberton, 626 PC Leon Michael and 690 PC Dwight St. Ville.
The Police Officer of the Year award went to Police Constable Delroy Harris.
Among those present at the ceremony were the Premier, Honourable Joseph Parry; Governor-General, His Excellency Sir Cuthbert Sebastian; Deputy Governor, His Honour Eustace John; Superintendent of Police Samuel Seabrookes; Deputy Commissioner of Police Stafford Liburd; President of the Nevis Island Assembly Marjorie Morton; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security Astona Browne; and Leader of the Concerned Citizens Movement, the Hon. Vance Amory.
