New Commissioner of Police takes over in St Vincent and the Grenadines

Incoming Commissioner of Police Keith Miller (left)
receives the symbolic baton of authority from
outgoing Commissioner, William Harry

by Kenton Chance 
Caribbean Net News Correspondent

Tuesday, October 4, 2005

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent:  A new chief of police took office in St Vincent last Friday as Keith Miller took over from retiring Commissioner of Police William Harry during a parade at the Richmond Hill Playing field.

Miller admitted that he is “not a super-hero” but promised to “strive for excellence at all time”.

Speaking at the parade said he will make a “critical assessment” of the Police Force as he noted that the task will be “challenging” because of what he described as the “many internal issues and demands”. 

He identified the need for law enforcement officers here to improve their work attitude and embracing international investigative techniques and highlighted the challenges of criminal activities.

He said it was necessary to equip officers with major disaster preparedness techniques and to the foster and maintain better relationship with the public.

“There must be bilateral corporation between the police and the public in order to build an efficient and effective Police Force,” COP Miller said. 

He said the public must be “the watchdog” for the police and criminals as he noted that “…Police officers will have to operate within the ambits of the rule of law, and criminals will be deterred from their modus operandi.”

“When we fail, the police fails and our beloved country suffers,” COP Miller said. 

Outgoing COP William Harry, addressing the parade spoke of some of the challenges confronting policing today including less tolerant individuals, more greed, illicit drug trafficking and money laundering. He also noted that the shores of SVG are more porous today.

“I implore you to be courageous, efficient and observant in order to diminish such trends,” Harry advised. 

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and National Security Minister Sir Vincent Beache also addressed the parade.

  Back...

  Most popular articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed

  Printable version