Taiwan presents cops with Christmas gift

Traffic police officers have been visited by Santa Claus this christmas, and were given a gift worth EC $180,000 last Tuesday.{{more}}

“Christmas is love and giving. Today I will play Santa Claus,” said Taiwanese Ambassador Jack Cheng, as he handed over six police motor bicycles to the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force.

Ambassador Cheng said that his country and people remain committed to St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“Taiwan will always remain your most loyal and faithful friend,” Cheng said.

For his part, Dr Gonsalves said that he has been doing little things to make sure that the police officers know that he is on their side.

He said that when he took office in 2001, he was aware that some officers may have been a bit apprehensive of him; considering his fruitful law career, where he often successfully defended his clients, defeating the police prosecutors in the process and hammering many

police officers on the witness stand.

Dr Gonsalves, however, said that his legal experience affords him, better than any previous prime minister in the past, “a tremendous insight into the police force, and issues of law and order.”

Dr Gonsalves said that the government is trying with all available resources to push the envelope within the police force.

Commenting on the concerns about the crime level in St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Gonsalves said that it was going to take a combined effort to ensure that there is a decline in homicides, starting right now, but moreso as we enter 2008.

“We have to make sure…that we have fewer homicides next year,” he said.

Commissioner of Police Keith Miller said that there are too many breaches of the traffic laws of St Vincent and the Grenadines, and with the new mobility, the traffic police officers will be better equipped to get on spot quickly to deal with these issues.

Five of the six motor bicycles donated were on display at the Administrative building, where the short handing over ceremony was held.

Dr Gonsalves explained that there was a minor mechanical problem with the one that was not on show.

There are four larger, 900cc bicycles, and two smaller 250cc ones. (KJ)