Lawyer advises police to make 2024 the year of respect

A lawyer has advised the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) that if they “make 2024 the year of respect,” they’d be more efficient at arresting criminals.

“When a person is accused and convicted of a crime, he loses his liberty. He does not lose his human dignity.”

Jomo Thomas made this remark during the Closing of the Assizes on December 21, as he was highlighting the poor relationship that the RSVGPF has with the general public, and how that relationship is having a negative impact on the quality of their work.

Thomas shared a story of one of his clients who was diagnosed with a medical issue which required him to eat foods such as nuts. Knowing that the prisons usually serve inmates one type food such as rice, Thomas said that he visited the prison where his client was sent to with the intention of handing over a bag of food which his client was prescribed to eat.

But to Thomas’ disappointment, the food was rejected. Thomas said that acts like these amongst many others that are committed by members of the RSVGPF, are a “slow moving assault on the right of the defendant” and an “assault on accused rights and prisoners rights.”

“I too believe the police force can do a much better job at solving crimes if they treat accused persons…[better]” he added.

Thomas said that in 2023, “police are not respected but feared” and if they “make 2024 the year of respect, you’d be better at arresting many more persons who assault on our rights and dignities.”