NEW POLICE CONSTABLES REMINDED OF THEIR TASK TO PROTECT, SERVE AND MAINTAIN SAFETY AND SECURITY IN ST. KITTS AND NEVIS

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, December 23, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) welcomed 26 new members to its rank and file, and those officers have been reminded that the noble task of protecting their fellow citizen and keeping this country safe now falls squarely on their shoulders.

The 26 officers officially became members of the Police Force following their graduation from Course #45 on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 during a ceremony held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.

Delivering the featured remarks at the ceremony, Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris told the new police constables that the path they have chosen is more than just a job.

“Becoming a police officer is more than just a job. It is a career path. It is a vocation. Being a police officer allows you to play a critical role in our community,” Prime Minister Harris said.

He added, “The police force of our Federation is the embodiment of our motto ‘country above self’, for you have chosen to put the safety and protection of your fellow man ahead of yourselves.”

The National Security minister further stressed to the newest members of the Police Force the importance of maintaining safe streets and safe communities. He reminded them of the days before the Team Unity administration when crime and violence were rampant in St. Kitts and Nevis.

Prime Minister Harris said the men and women of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force have a key role to play in making sure the Federation never returns to those days of high crime.

“Our newfound safety has brought with it a new confidence amongst our people, amongst businesses and new opportunities for our young people. We have a new and growing film sector, made possible because our Federation is safe. We see more tourists coming to enjoy what our beautiful island offers, again possible because our streets are safe and our vaccination rate in the era of COVID is very high. We see more and more young people starting to own their own business, creating more jobs rather than turn to crime, and this must be a welcomed development in our Federation. All this is possible because of the safety and protection that our police force and other agencies of law and order help to deliver. It now falls on you who are graduating today [December 22] to ensure this safety is maintained and our communities continue to be protected,” the honourable Prime Minister said.

The new batch of 26 constables, which includes four females, completed six months of intensive physical and theoretical training exercises before becoming full-fledged officers of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force. -30-