Anguilla Police Force Free of Corruption. We in Anguilla are fortunate. We have never had a police officer charged, far less convicted, of a serious crime. Indeed, I believe, of any crime! What is more, not at any time during the forty-odd year history of the RAPF! This is not just unique in the history of police services of the Caribbean, it is also highly commendable. Our Police Commissioner is to be congratulated for the care and control he has of the members of his force.
Commissioner Keithley Benjamin LlB, LEC
Not so poor Cayman Islands. There, they have had two police officers charged and convicted of offences of dishonesty over the past year. The earlier case was that of Police Constable Nathaniel Guthrie. He was convicted of accepting bribes in motor traffic incidents and sentenced in April last year to eighteen months in prison [link here].
The last case was that involving PC Richard Hanna [link here] . He raised funds to send Caymanian school children on trips. Then he pocketed the money. That was not all. He committed thirteen other offences of dishonesty. They charged him, the jury convicted him, and the judge has now sentenced him to 15 months’ imprisonment.
PC Richard Hanna
I am quite certain that if we ever had a police officer in Anguilla commit an act of dishonesty, that officer would be investigated. That officer would be disciplined. Court charges would be forthcoming without delay. Especially if it involved forgery or theft. We would never hear the brush-off words, "the file is still with the Attorney-General”. Nor, God forbid, would we ever hear the ominous claim that, “The victim has dropped charges, and does not want the matter to be prosecuted”. That could never happen in Anguilla!
Right. Instead of embarrassing anyone, they were quietly allowed to resign. With an apparently clean civil service record, they went across the road and got jobs as prison guards. The resulting indiscipline was as bad among the guards as it was among the prisoners.
ReplyDeleteRetired Police Commissioner Mitchell Harrigan was brought in on a one year contract to clean things up. To his dismay, he found that the officers he should have brought up on charges were now his problem once again, because he took the easy way out with them.
And then we had jail breaks.
This is my ultimate story of Anguilla chickens coming home to roost.
This sounds to good to b true.. there was an officer at the indian rally that was out of order what happen about that?
ReplyDeleteOh ye of little faith:
ReplyDeleteWe will be given a full report about the incident at the Indian rally when we get the full report on why the officer crashed the police car into the court house like he was a suicide bomber. All this and more soon come, along with Jesus and Billy Herbert.
Yes what happened to all those investigations that were supposed to happen, I am sure they did, however, I have never heard of any of the results:
ReplyDeleteTake for example, my school mate Michael "Bait" Gumbs who was shot by the Police. Whether or not it was justified, I would still love to see the results of the investigation or hear a report on them.
The other investigation into the actions of the Police at the Indian Labour Crisis.
The point is, we have heard on the news that these investigations were happening, yet we have not heard of any of the results of them.
We are told not to speculate and spread rumours, that an investigation is taking place. Then we never hear anything ever again. I can't remember the police EVER releasing a report on an investigation of its officers. These people work for us and are paid by us, but the manner in which they conduct themselves is not our business? Only in backward countries and dictatorships is this acceptable governance.
ReplyDeleteThere was a report on the lady cop who was caught shop lifting before Christmas. The terrified owners decided they did not want to prosecute, and all charges were dropped. Soon we will hear she was promoted.
ReplyDeleteAround the same time there was the immigration officer with the residence stamps in exchange for sex and groceries with the Chinese. Look what happened to him. Nothing.
ReplyDeleteAnguillians you all are so petty and childish, you holla and gripe about everything but never come up with any solutions to remedy the problems. It is really amasing to hear how all this corruption is going on yet still it is permitted to continue, it is your responsibility to do something about it is it not? It is shameful to read these blog and yet not hear of anyone courageous enough to stand up and make a difference. Perhaps you all are content to live in a state of chaos and confusion and really just enjoy the use of the internet to have the opportunity to air your dirty laundry. Where are the leaders, where are the individuals who will take up arms and fight this battle for truth, honesty and integrity?
ReplyDeleteYes, I expect I'll be attacked and condemned but that’s alright bring it on, I'm a big boy. Guess you want the Uk to solve all your problems. Just like you expect them to solve your crime crisis. Have some backbone and work at solving your self made situation and be better for it.
The police are not required to inform anyone of their investigation except the media so perhaps it is the media who is not doing the people just in reporting the outcome of the investigations. I have known many police dep'ts who have had officers under investigations who have been terminated and the public was unaware until the media informed them. It is not to say that there is secrecy but there is no requirement for the police to disclose that information unless the media request it.
ReplyDeleteYour media people are who is to blame for much of the misinformation and underreporting going on on the island. When they fail to properly do their job it leaves only the rumor mill and wild speculation to circulate. Sounds familiar? Well that's the situation in Anguilla at present. Why can't we have proper investigative reporters who are trained to conduct the necessary interviews to get the true stories out to the public? It's a shame that in this day and age this is not so in Anguilla.
"Reporting isn't just about writing down what people say, it's also about questioning and investigating the truth of it too." --SXM Private Eye
ReplyDeleteTruth? What media outlet ever promised us the truth? Well, I suppose they've all made that claim at one time or another, but who in Anguilla has ever started a radio station or a newspaper to bring people the truth? We get carefully selected portions of truth, plus idle speculation clothed as "People are saying that..." or "It has been speculated that..." Look at The Anguillian. Nat's version of the truth tells us that everyone who goes away to college graduates with honors, every cent given to Slick Carty and other charities is used honestly, every civil servant is overworked, underpaid yet continues the heroic struggle to serve the people, every man and woman who comes here to make money is "contributing to our development for the good of our country" and no one has ever died at the hospital because of someone's stupid negligence.
ReplyDeleteIn Anguilla, we call this "fair and balanced news."
The US Virgin Islands Attorney General on Tuesday made public the findings of a joint investigation between the V.I. Justice and Police departments on the circumstances surrounding the death of Glen Deazle.
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/yr32u4
Has such a thing EVER happened in Anguilla? Our police whine that we won't cooperate with them by giving them information. They fail to understand that those who operate in secrecy have no right to expect others to trust them.