An open letter to the Police Commissioner

Fri Jul 4, 2014

Dear Sir,

I am asking for your help to safeguard one of our historical monuments against wilful and wanton defacement and destruction. I am referring to the cenotaph, which was finally cleaned (in November 2013) after spending years at the mercy of vandals.{{more}}

Based on previous years’ observation, I have very little faith in the ability of its governing body to protect this humble monument, neither in the drunken ignoramuses to stop defacing it.

As this year’s Carnival street activities are in full bloom, I have already seen signs of disrespect to the monument. On Monday afternoon, as I drove by during the Kiddies Carnival, I observed six persons, adults as well as children, sitting on the step at the base of its pillar eating food out of take-away containers. I could not stay, as I was in traffic, but I would bet good money that their food containers, plastic bottles and glasses joined the others that littered the garden at the time.

Commissioner Charles, J’Ouvert is coming up next week. The paint that the revellers used over the years was the main feature in the cenotaph’s defacement. I am asking you to help safeguard this historical monument by assigning a police officer to stand guard in the cenotaph’s enclosure. I do not expect an officer to be there whole day, just during the evenings and early mornings of the remaining days of the Carnival.

Let this form of protection and service be one of the many positive precedents that you set and are remembered for during your tenure as Commissioner of Police.

Lisa