Increased manpower for RSLPF and Bordelaise Correctional Facility
The burden of lack of manpower within the Royal St. Lucia Police Force has been slightly lifted as 58 new recruits joined the staff.
The Bordelaise Correctional Facility also received 40 new correctional officers.
Following six months of vigorous training, the officers graduated at the St. Lucia Police Force Academy at La Toc, Castries on Friday.
Among the attendants at the ceremony were Chief Justice Hugh Rawlins, Director of Public Prosecution, Victoria Charles-Clarke, Justice Kenneth Benjamin, Minister for National Security, Guy Mayers, members of the Diplomatic core, family and friends of the graduates.
Pathologist Dr. Stephen King, was the keynote speaker at the ceremony. He urged the recruits to use their power to do good in society.
“As law enforcement officers, you will have power, you will need to be careful to ensure that you use this power to create good, if you use it otherwise, you will suffer the fate of those who abuse power,” he said.
Dr. King told the recruits they must have the understanding of the community and what pressures move the people in the community.
“There are many people that say, we should have police and correctional officers from other countries or other culture; I say, ‘No’. I believe the law enforcement officers should by staffed by people from the communities, therefore with the understanding of those communities,” he said.
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner, Ausbert Regis reminded the officers to honor the police creed.
He told them they will be under scrutiny for two years, before being appointed to the force, reading Section 17 of the Police Act to prove his point.
The commissioner told the officers that this is not meant to be a threat but as an encouragement to do their best.
He also reminded them that they will be acting on behalf of the state while conducting their duties.
“When we are in bed at 2 am, you are on the streets representing the Commissioner of Police, you are representing the Minister of National Security, you are the ones representing the Government of St. Lucia to keep our citizens safe,” Regis said.
The Commissioner also encouraged the officers to take their jobs seriously and never leave their homes without God.
Forty correctional officers have also joined the staff of the Bordelaise Correctional Facility.
Director of that facility, Hilary Herman also had some words of advice for his new staff.
“I encourage you to continue educating yourself, and do not depend on in service training. We will do everything we can to provide in service training for you, but as you know, in these tough economic times, the training budget is always the first to go, make yourself competitive, design a career map for yourself. If corrections is your lifelong journey please prepare yourself for it, there are lost of opportunities, but you need to take it,” Herman said.
He left the young correctional officers with these words: “Always say what you mean and mean what you say and do not bring anything into the facility and do not take anything out.”
The Best Police Recruit was Jahlin Joseph while Janius Descartes emerged the Best Correctional Recruit.