Prime Minister Dr. Kenny D Anthony is urging the island’s police officers to always act in a professional manner in the execution of their duties.
Noting that the public has higher demands and expectations of the police, Dr. Anthony said it is important that officers set high standards for themselves.
He said the duty of the police must always be to protect and serve. He made the comments during the official opening of the Babonneau Police Station on Monday, July 22, 2013.
The prime minister shared the advice for all police officers, particularly those assigned to the new station.
“Some of the principles of policing that should resonate with you officers now and always includes your basic mission should always being the prevention of crime and disorder. You must secure the willing cooperation of the public in voluntary observation of the law to be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public and you must seek and preserve public favour, not by catering to public opinion but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law and finally your efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder to the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it so in other words the emphasis must always be crime prevention,” the prime minister said.
The government has allocated EC$71 million for this financial year to maintain the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.
The force currently has an estimated 1,200 officers.