RSS better equipped to face the challenge

Thirty men and women of Special Services Units (SSU) from the Eastern Caribbean are now better prepared to assist in regional security, as the Regional Security, System (RSS) Basic course 1 held its closing ceremony last Thursday at the Old Montrose Police Station.{{more}}

Police officers from seven countries, including St Vincent and the Grenadines, took part in the three-month programme, held in Barbados and St Vincent, from July 2 to September 21. The participants engaged in physical training, first aid, rifle shot, pistol shot and map reading.

The main purpose of the course, as outlined by assistant staff officer ASP Glen Paul, was to teach the participants basic military procedures and to equip them with the necessary tools to participate in the RSS.

During their training in the mountains here, over 870,161 marijuana plants, 3 bags of compressed cannabis and 111 huts were destroyed over a five-day period by the officers. Paul said their efforts would not have been successful without the cooperation of the people of this country.

The officers were awarded trophies for participation in various fields, but the day clearly belonged to PC 1740 Ralston Farley of the Royal Barbados Police Force, as he was adjudged best student. Farley was best at the rifle shot, map reading and First Aid. Delivering brief remarks, Commissioner of Police Keith Miller said that he was confident that the officers are now ready to face any eventuality after going through such rigorous training. Miller said that he was impressed by the enthusiasm shown by participants, especially for their work in the mountains.

On hand to deliver the feature address, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said that the RSS was conceived with much vision and foresight. The Prime Minister stated that it serves as an important area of functional cooperation between the independent member states of the OECS and Barbados to coordinate security, assist each other with policing work, and in order to stamp out crime. Dr Gonsalves also urged persons to stop taking matters of security lightly. He pointed out that several steps are being taken to make it harder for criminals to operate. “We must narrow their space for operation; we have to maintain a state of order.”

The Prime Minister pointed out the RRU will be beefed up from 30 men and women to 60, and additional RRU bases will be set up in Owia and Chateaubelair to deal with crime. Dr Gonsalves urged officers to work in accordance with the law and to be professional at all times.