Lawyer deplores poor treatment of police officers

In the presence of several high ranking officers and High Court Judge, Rickie Burnett, lawyer Grant Connell spoke out against a lack of promotion and resources in the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), as well as the deplorable state of some police stations.

At the closure of the criminal Assizes, at the High Court on December 19, 2024, Connell also noted that Acting Commissioner of Police, Enville Williams, had been absent from the closure of the assizes for the third consecutive time.

“While others may not talk, I’ll talk. My back broad,” Connell said, while adding that some police officers “do nothing” and still “soar like birds”, while other officers are constantly being overlooked for promotion.

“How you want them to deliver?” he questioned. Connell also addressed the lack of resources in the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force telling the court that some traffic officers begged him for a ride the week before the sitting, because they did not have access to their own transportation.

Connell also commented on the lack of handcuffs.

“Six prisoners, one handcuff. When five run away, who you’re going to blame?”

The lawyer remarked, “you can’t have these good men and women” working in such conditions. Connell also commented on the deplorable state of some police stations and claimed that he spotted maggots in one of the toilets that the prisoners use. He said as well that there is another police station where if the roof is removed, you will be getting a lot of bat manure.

“These are the reasons why the head has to be here,” Connell said in reference to the Acting Commissioner, later adding that senior police officers are rarely seen on crime scenes or in courtrooms. He, however noted that Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) with responsibility for fighting crime, Trevor Bailey, “is everywhere now.”

Present at the closing exercise from the RSVGPF were Assistant Commissioner Bailey; Deputy Commissioner of Police, Frankie Joseph; Superintendent of Police, Junior Simmons; along with Superintendent of Prisons, Dwayne Bailey, and other senior officers.