History made in Antigua-Barbuda as woman appointed police chief

Officers James Hill, Elton Martin and Rolston Pompey
(left to right) are now history

Members of the force

by Sarrah Hadeed
Caribbean Net News Antigua-Barbuda Correspondent
E-mail: sarrahhadeed@yahoo.com

Monday, May 23, 2005

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua: Some two weeks after announcing the establishment of a special task force designed to halt "organized crime and corruption by government officials," the excitement in Antigua and Barbuda has been heightened with the news that a woman now heads the 500 plus strong Royal Police Force after the top brass has been "sent packing."

Officers at Police Headquarters on the American Road confirmed to Caribbean Net News on Saturday that Acting Commissioner of Police Rolston Pompey and his second-in-command James Hill have both been sent on vacation.

In a history making move which took immediate effect, Deputy Commissioner Delano Christopher is now acting as Commissioner of Police.

Pompey took control of the troubled force some nine months following the removal of former Acting Commissioner of Police Elton Martin, who had earlier replaced Commissioner of Police Trueheart Smith.

In an earlier address to Parliament, Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer indicated that, "In order to remedy some of the deficiencies in the ability of the police service to meet present-day challenges, the government has provided a task force with the necessary resources and it is about to commence its duties."

Meanwhile, the appointment of the country's first female Commissioner of Police has been met with mixed reactions from the members of the force. Caribbean Net News spoke with an Inspector at the St. John's Police Station who indicated that, "I am in full support of Commissioner Delano. She is a career policewoman who has worked very hard and I feel she will do her best to bring back some morale to our police force."

However, several other officers were not so complimentary and saw the appointment of Christopher as a purely "political move," arguing that the division is now being turned into a "petticoat force." Delano Christopher is also said to be breaking new ground, as she is believed to be the first woman in the Caribbean region to be appointed Commissioner of Police.

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