Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
New Commissioner of Police says better will be done
EnvilLE Williams, SVG’s new Commissioner of Police (ag)
Front Page
October 6, 2023

New Commissioner of Police says better will be done

by Christina Smith

The country’s newly appointed top cop, Commissioner of Police (CoP), Enville Williams, entered the St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) on a whim after he came into Kingstown to pay bills and saw people from his village going to take the police examination.

The then 19-year-old made the decision to “tag along” and now, 31 years later, he has ascended to the chief position, his appointment being effective October 1.

The timing of his appointment is complicated, no doubt, as it comes as a result of the former CoP prematurely vacating the position; this year being three killings shy of breaking the homicide record and public confidence in the organization’s ability to fight crime being arguably at its lowest.

The new CoP admitted there are areas of improvement that can be made within the Force and, less than a week into his appointment, he has given the Vincentian public the assurance that better will come.

“It is challenging for us. I would be the first to put my hand up and say that we can do better. The people of St Vincent and the Grenadines expect us to do better. We have been doing better and we will continue to push towards continuing to make St Vincent safe… I want Vincentians to sleep with their windows open without the fear of intrusion or being assaulted in any way, form or fashion,” CoP Williams told SEARCHLIGHT yesterday.

When questioned as to if he recognizes that his performance as the new CoP will be under public scrutiny, Williams said Vincentians should not expect sweeping changes to come as a result of his appointment, adding, change will come as needed.

“Where people are looking for a wholesale change, I don’t see where we are going to have wholesale institutional changes. Yes, we do have the need for change, but if there is a need for it, yes. People looking for a new man at the helm that will start going left instead of going right when perhaps going right is what we were doing right in the first place. From an internal standpoint we recognize there is a need for change.”

One area of needed improvement the Commissioner highlighted was the lack of communication with the public in relation to any progress being made with murder investigations. Pointing to the recent mass shooting back in July which claimed the lives of five males, the youngest of which was a 13-year-old student, he admitted to the need for more updates on major crimes.

“For issues of national importance, we ought to reach out to the public because the public is looking to us to help alleviate their fears. Behind the scenes, the investigative team is working extremely hard to bring this, and all other murder matters to a conclusion. We ought to have said to the public before where we are.”

He said while it might appear to the public as if no work is being done to bring criminals to justice, the police officer who has specialized in intelligence prior to his appointment told SEARCHLIGHT that investigators are working to ensure that cases are air-tight.

“The goal is not to just arrest somebody and then you go to court tomorrow and based on a technicality, then the matter is thrown out. It is more acceptable that you take your time and get it done correctly… so that when we present the case to the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions), the file is strong and convincing.”

Speaking on additional areas of improvement which the public can expect, the CoP promised to build on one of the changes that former CoP John was working to implement which mandated that police officers follow-up with complainants within a seven-day period after the initial reporting date, noting that having matters hanging in uncertainty is not fair to the public that police are expected to serve.

The re-establishment of a hotline where the public can call and report tips to the police was another assurance given, with a timeline set for the end of October.

“Fighting crime and violence has to be a shared responsibility. While police are tasked with carrying out this function, when we are all invested in it, the incidents of crime and violence will reduce greatly.”

With a Force that numbers just over 1,000 collectively and the fallout from the drug trade that has resulted in a spike in murders recently, CoP Williams said collaborations with CARICOM Impacs and the Regional Security System (RSS) are critical to filling the technical gaps in the Force.

CoP Williams said he intends to build on the recently implemented crime-fighting strategies that came under Colin John’s tenure, revealing that some plans were “shattered” while others continue to “bear fruit”.

{"carousel":"Carousel"}
  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    Gonsalves Rings the General Elections Bell
    Breaking News
    Gonsalves Rings the General Elections Bell
    Forrest 
    October 29, 2025
    General elections in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) will be on November 27, 2025. Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, announced the date on Tuesd...
    It’s now called Independence Park!
    News
    It’s now called Independence Park!
    Forrest 
    October 28, 2025
    As of Monday, October 27, 2025, what for many decades has been known as Victoria Park, is now to be called Independence Park. Announcement of the name...
    Thirteen named as New Sports and Cultural Ambassadors
    News
    Thirteen named as New Sports and Cultural Ambassadors
    Forrest 
    October 28, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves has revealed the names of 13 persons as sports and cultural ambassadors at the 46 th Independence Anniversary parad...
    Magnitude 6.7 Earthquake Felt Across the Eastern Caribbean
    News
    Magnitude 6.7 Earthquake Felt Across the Eastern Caribbean
    Forrest 
    October 27, 2025
    Vincentians reported experiencing earth tremors this morning. A magnitude 6.7 earthquake was recorded northeast of the Lesser Antilles at approximatel...
    Tarmac Takeover Night Stage Results
    News
    Tarmac Takeover Night Stage Results
    Forrest 
    October 27, 2025
    Motorsport fans gathered for another successful staging of the Tarmac Takeover: Night Stage , organized by Hyperspeed and 784Streetz . The event featu...
    Police Issue Statement on Military Aircraft activity Ahead of Independence Day Celebrations
    News
    Police Issue Statement on Military Aircraft activity Ahead of Independence Day Celebrations
    Forrest 
    October 27, 2025
    The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) has issued the following statement in the wake of public comments regarding recent airc...
    News
    It’s now called Independence Park!
    News
    It’s now called Independence Park!
    Forrest 
    October 28, 2025
    As of Monday, October 27, 2025, what for many decades has been known as Victoria Park, is now to be called Independence Park. Announcement of the name...
    Thirteen named as New Sports and Cultural Ambassadors
    News
    Thirteen named as New Sports and Cultural Ambassadors
    Forrest 
    October 28, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves has revealed the names of 13 persons as sports and cultural ambassadors at the 46 th Independence Anniversary parad...
    Magnitude 6.7 Earthquake Felt Across the Eastern Caribbean
    News
    Magnitude 6.7 Earthquake Felt Across the Eastern Caribbean
    Forrest 
    October 27, 2025
    Vincentians reported experiencing earth tremors this morning. A magnitude 6.7 earthquake was recorded northeast of the Lesser Antilles at approximatel...
    Tarmac Takeover Night Stage Results
    News
    Tarmac Takeover Night Stage Results
    Forrest 
    October 27, 2025
    Motorsport fans gathered for another successful staging of the Tarmac Takeover: Night Stage , organized by Hyperspeed and 784Streetz . The event featu...
    Police Issue Statement on Military Aircraft activity Ahead of Independence Day Celebrations
    News
    Police Issue Statement on Military Aircraft activity Ahead of Independence Day Celebrations
    Forrest 
    October 27, 2025
    The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) has issued the following statement in the wake of public comments regarding recent airc...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok