| |
Contact:
Rose Marie Harris
Friday, July 15, 2005 - The Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal
Security and the Police High Command are hoping that policing against crime will
get a boost with the recent confirmation and promotion of a dozen of the Police
Force’s top officers.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) recently approved a dozen new appointments
in the leadership ranks of the Police Force, affecting officers from the rank of
Assistant Commissioner to Assistant Superintendent.
The announcement of the promotions and appointments was this week welcomed by
the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, as well as by the
Commissioner of Police. Home Affairs Minister, Senator Calixte George, said he
expected the “moral boost” from the promotions “to positively affect the overall
leadership of the fight against crime.”
Police Commissioner Ausbert Regis has also welcomed the new promotions and
appointments. He said, “these promotions are naturally welcome, they were earned
by the individuals concerned and with them also come added responsibilities.”
According to the Commissioner, “in their new positions, each individual will be
required to function at a naturally higher level, while at the same time being
part of the coordinating unit that comprises the hierarchy of the force.”
Topping the list of senior officers promoted are Moses Charles and Cyril Noel,
two former Acting Assistant Commissioners who are now confirmed in their posts.
The confirmations continue with George Deterville and Philip Vernon Francois,
who are now Superintendents. Mr Francois will act as an Assistant Commissioner,
replacing Mr Joseph Francis, who has proceeded on pre-retirement leave.
Acting Assistant Superintendents Errol Alexander, Frances Henry, Brian Jawahir
and Gregory Montoute have been confirmed.
In the Police Band, Gregory Piper has now been promoted to the post of
Superintendent, while David Pierre has been promoted to the post of Assistant
Superintendent.
The Commissioner of Police has also approved the promotion of Sergeant 131 Leon
to Inspector, Corporal 32 Henry to Sergeant and Constable 34 Pierre to the post
of corporal within the band.
According to the PSC, the appointments took effect from May 2005.
Senator George said the promotion of top officers was taking place “at a time
when we have just added 60 new recruits to the force” to assist in meeting the
challenges of policing in St. Lucia today.
The minister noted that “the challenges today include, among other things,
vigilance, information gathering, scientific analysis and knowledge of the local
terrain” and he said efforts were also under way “to take the force to the
required levels of operational efficiency to meet the new and old challenges in
the continuing crime fight.”
In this regard, he referred to “recent measures also taken to improve the
force’s overall intelligence gathering capabilities.” Pointing to recent
measures taken by the Government to improve the operational efficiency and
working environment for the nation’s officers, Senator George said the
promotions also coincided with “ongoing measures to improve the overall output
of the force, across the island, in the neighbourhoods and communities, with the
help of the citizenry.”
He said recent measures taken by the Government to help strengthen the fight
against crime included provision of new vehicles, new police stations, more
training for officers, and harmonization of prosecutorial services, additional
manpower and a greater measure of coordination.”
The minister said the measures taken over the years “have significantly improved
the base for better policing” by the force. He said “new legislative and
tactical measures have also been showing positive results,” pointing to the new
Criminal Code and the recent Revised Laws of Saint Lucia.
He identified what he said was “our continuing progress in the recovery of
illegal firearms” as one example of the success of legislative and tactical
measures to combat crime.
|
