BASSETERE, St. Kitts – AS part of the commemoration of Police Week, members of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force participated in the Commissioner’s Parade this morning (Oct. 31) which wove its way through the streets of Basseterre.
Featuring tactical and general policing units, the march was more than 80 strong and commenced at the Police Training Complex, flowed west along Pond Road and onto Cayon Street, south along Church Street then onto College Street, east along the Bay Road, up Fort Street and onto Victoria Road, then across Lozack Road and culminating at the Basseterre Police Station.
The Police Drum Corps, assets of the RSCNPF, Gazetted Officers, Traffic Wardens and the K-9 Unit were some of the Departments of the Force represented in the march.
The first platoon on parade was that of Gazetted Officers. It was led by Commissioner of Police Ian Queeley and featured other members of the High Command and District Commanders.
In an interview with SKNVibes, Commissioner Queeley explained the multi-pronged purpose of this exercise.
“It was the Commissioner’s Parade which was designed to stimulate motivation within the ranks. As part of the Police Week of activities, it is also to try and bridge the gap between the police and the public. So this morning’s display was to show police presence within the community and to display the assets of the Police Force.”
The assets on display included vehicles and the canine members of the K-9 Unit.
“So you would have seen motorcycle, you would have seen cars, there were the tactical units, the general policing unity, the canines themselves were on parade, the Traffic Wardens. So all those were designed to showcase to the public.”
Queeley said it is a belief of the Force that “visibility will help in the fight against crime”.
Police Week is being observed from October 29 to November 5 under the theme “Creating a Better Federation through Enhanced Citizen Safety”.
The activities for the week include an Awards Ceremony, the distribution of fruit baskets to particular members of each policing district, sporting and other games of camaraderie, and talks at schools to be given by police officers.
