Our loss of innocence, addressing crime
THIS COUNTRY accepted the passing of the baton to the new top brass in the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), in a rather lukewarm manner. No real excitement was felt or demonstrated on the talk show circuit, and in the media in general. One wonders whether this was because the population had long expected the changes. Even the leapfrog manoeuvred by the Police Services Commission to elevate the former General Secretary of the New Democratic Party while in opposition, Brenton Smith, from Sergeant to Inspector and now Assistant Commissioner of Police responsible for Crime, seemed not to generate too much media chatter. Well, except by the voices of the Parliamentary Opposition Unity Labour Party via its mouthpiece, Star Radio.
But another possible reason, one might surmise, was perhaps the urgency of members of the public to have the burgeoning murder rate put under control.The new playbook announced by outgoing Commissioner Enville Williams never had an opportunity to be implemented; it was announced that he had proceeded on pre-retirement leave.
There seems to be a lot of goodwill toward the new leadership of the Police Force. Here we have at the helm the man formerly having responsibility for crime fighting Trevor “Buju” Bailey, now slotted into the top seat as Commissioner of Police, albeit in an acting capacity. At his right hand as Deputy Commissioner is Junior Simmons, the very personable and popular former head of the Public Relations and Complaints Department and most recently, the Officer in charge of the Western Division, who like his senior is also in an acting capacity.
The pro-active manner in which the media conference to announce the new appointments was done is commendable. Speakers delivering scripted addresses and the chairman explaining the rules of the meeting ensuring there was no time wasting, signalled a good start to the provision of information to the public; may it continue to be so.
Already being acted upon is the increased police presence within communities- already in capital Kingstown, and in a few other areas. This is commendable; but officers have to understand that alertness is key to their tasks and the penchant of some officers on the beat for constant cell phone engagement will not cut it!
Their increased presence is essential especially given the spate of brazen daylight shootings which have occurred over the past few months, that can give the impression that this is the wild Wild West.
We once consoled ourselves into believing that the bullets were being discharged by gunmen targeting other gunmen, and so the general public was insulated from that problem. However, the recent examples that shows a blatant disregard for time and place such as in the Russell’s Mall, the Grenadines Wharf, and China Town, must have changed all of that false sense of security.
We have seen innocent members of the public being shot as collateral damage. The peace loving members of our population must have now lost our innocence- and that is not a good place to be.
It certainly instilled some measure of hope to hear the new Police Top Brass announce that arrangements are being made to have access to forensics and fingerprinting devices to aid in the crime fighting process. And, we look forward to seeing motor patrols, in addition to the armed foot patrols. Criminals must not be given free rein to terrorize our towns and neighbourhoods.
Building positive relationships with the public is needed to build trust, because the safety our our communities is a responsibility of all of us, and the police certainly know how the public feels about the issue of trust. Their series of Town Hall meetings provided that frank feedback and those in charge certainly know the work that is necessary to remedy this deficit; we must know that we can share intelligence with the police without fear.
The social problems which lend to the breeding of criminal minds and behaviours would not disappear overnight, but we must be each other’s keeper.
We have a wonderful country blessed by nature with mountains, rivers, waterfalls, forests and beaches spread over 32 islands and cays of varied attractions which we all want to enjoy in peace. This is do-able, between churches, community organizations and neighbourhood watches, among other entities, and instruments.
Together, let us all look out for the continued peace of our beloved SVG.
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