Let us continue to work together to make SVG a safe place

by: Renold Hadaway, Commissioner of Police, the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGFP)

Vincentians at home and abroad, as well as visitors to our shores, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ this festive season, the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force extends season greetings to you for 2017 and a prosperous new year.

Let our efforts resonate throughout, as we seek to ensure that this nation of ours remains the land of the blessed. Accordingly, the reduction of crime and criminality throughout St Vincent and the Grenadines must be our primary focus. As we look towards the New Year, let us work more conscientiously and collaboratively to strengthen our collective effort, geared towards enhanced citizen security.

Even as we embrace this period of love, caring and sharing, criminals within our midst are looking for every opportunity to strike on our vulnerabilities. Hence, we cannot afford to let our guard down. As the sole law enforcement agency, our ultimate goal is to robustly curb criminality, particularly gun-related incidents and other violent crimes, significantly during the rest of 2017 and into the New Year.

Like the year 2016, this year was a challenging one for the vast majority of Vincentians, as we tried to address criminal activities, particularly the high percentage of crimes committed primarily by teenagers, involving the use of firearms. This unfortunate trend continues to threaten the peaceful and tranquil atmosphere that Vincentians have grown accustomed to. Currently, we have equalled the record of 40 homicides, as in 2016, with the majority being committed through the use of firearms. Several young men, including one of our very own, PC Danroy Cozier and his young brother’s lives were lost by the bullet. Let us all continue to lift up the families of victims of crime in our prayers.

The total number of crimes committed in 2016 was 5,736, while for 2017 the total crimes committed thus far are 5,406.

In 2018, we plan to double our efforts, as we endeavour to make an even more positive impact on reducing criminal activities.

Throughout the year, we continue to strategize, as we sought to restore that level of peace and tranquillity that Vincentians are accustomed to. One of our main thrusts was the implementation of several crime fighting initiatives, such as Targeted Hot Spots Patrols, which focused on tackling homicides and other gun related offences. As a result, we can declare with a high degree of satisfaction that a total of 38 unlicensed firearms and 374 rounds of ammunitions were removed off the streets of our homeland. In 2016, 37 firearms and 232 rounds of ammunition were confiscated.

At this juncture, let me take this opportunity to compliment the many law-abiding citizens who continue to put their trust in the dedicated members of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) and its auxiliary forces.

Training was very high on our agenda; as such, several policemen and women, inclusive of the senior officers, received training locally, regionally and internationally, coupled with the personal academic development undertaken by several of our members. Accordingly, I wish to publicly commend those who achieved academic success during 2017. More so, I would like to express congratulatory wishes to those who received promotion and I hope this would propel them to continue to strive for excellence.

Special thanks are also extended to our hardworking and dedicated men and women for their sacrifices during the year. We extend our gratitude to your family and friends for their overwhelming support. A special thanks is also extended to our retirees for their contribution over the years, especially those who are incapacitated at this time of the year. Importantly, we must also extend our deepest appreciation to the several Non-Governmental Organizations and other partners whose support and collaborations were essential to the services delivered during the year.

Crime fighting is everyone’s business, and the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force cannot achieve any degree of success without your partnership. Therefore, I implore you to continue working with us, as we seek to make this nation a safer place for our children and grandchildren to enjoy.

As we embrace modern technologies to enhance our crime fighting strategies in 2018 and beyond, we have officially launched our Police Force website, which can be accessed at rsvgpf.gov.vc. It is our desire that this innovation will bring about better results. Accordingly, we look forward to your constructive feedback and an even closer working relationship with you, the general public.

Throughout the festive season, I urge us all to be vigilant and exercise moderation in everything that we do. During the year under review, we recorded a small increase in the number of motor vehicular accidents. In 2016, we recorded 842 accidents, while in 2017, 845 have been recorded thus far. There was also an increase in injuries as a result of motor vehicular accidents for the year, where 201 are recorded thus far, as against 174 in 2016. Accordingly, I urge everyone (motorists and pedestrians) to look out for each other during the holidays. Let us make a concerted effort to reduce motor vehicular accidents for the rest of 2017 and the New Year.

As we look towards the end of 2017, let us exhibit more love for our fellowmen. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 states: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrong. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trust, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Let us remind ourselves of the true reason for the season – the birth of Jesus Christ, as we look forward to a productive and prosperous New Year.