Former Superintendent of Police laid to rest

Final respects were paid on Wednesday to Superintendent of Police Cecil Milton Scott, who died on April 17. Scott, 78, who was remembered by many as an outstanding man in his community,{{more}} joined the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force in 1958, after leaving his job as a baker.

He advanced up the ranks of the force at a rapid pace.

Son of the deceased, Dr Cleve Scott, spoke highly of his father, remembering him as a scholar, exercise fanatic, family man and loving father.

“My father was a baker… He could bake anything and all of us, all of his children could bake,” he said, which was proof of his father’s love for learning and parenting.

Cleve also mentioned his father’s popularity among police officers throughout the Caribbean, noting that no one ever made negative remarks about his father.

“When I became a non-commissioned officer in the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cadet Force, almost every country I went to, there was someone who would come up to me and say ‘your father trained me’,” Cleve said.

Keith Miller, Commissioner of Police paid tribute to Scott, stressing the importance of paying respect to persons who served the police force with distinction.

“Mr Scott [was] a very hard worker and the discipline that he got from the organization…the St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force can be recognized as an institution where … great men are [either] born or made,” the Commissioner stated.

Miller expressed gratitude to persons like Scott, who he said laid the foundation on which the organization can build today and inspire its current members constructively.

In addition, the Commissioner highlighted many of Scott’s achievements as a member of the police force.

“Mr Scott was so recognized that in 1969, he went across to RPTC – Regional Police Training Centre in Barbados as an instructor…for you to hit RPTC as an instructor, you have to be recognized, you have to have that quality…,” Miller stressed.

Describing Scott as a father figure and approachable man, Miller wished the family solace, comfort and expressed deepest condolences on behalf of the entire police force.

Many others paid tribute to the outstanding citizen, including Minister of National Mobilisation Frederick Stephenson; Scott’s nephew Major St Clair Leacock, who also represented the Opposition; and Sergeant Brenton Smith.

A friend of Scott, Pastor Dr Juliet Samuel, also paid tribute.

The former upper New Montrose resident is survived by his widow Martha and eight children — Oscar Scott, Theophilus McTaire, Dr Cleve Scott, Michael Scott, Timothy Scott, Gisela Scott, Ankie Scott and Wazita Scott.

Scott’s funeral took place on Wednesday at the New Testament Church of God at Wilson Hill, Kingstown.