By Lesroy W. Williams

Observer Reporter

(St. John’s, Antigua)—A recent news report out of Antigua and Barbuda said that a retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer with 37 years of policing experience under his belt was sacked as the top cop of the Royal Antigua and Barbuda Police Force at the end of August.

Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Baldwin Spencer, in an address to the nation on September 1, said that Police Commissioner Gary Nelson was fired because of poor performance during his probationary period.

Mr. Nelson’s sacking as the head of the Royal Antigua and Barbuda Police Force comes just a few days shy of the announcement by Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Hon. Denzil Douglas, at his monthly press conference on August 27, that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is considering bringing their expertise in crime detection and crime expertise to the Federation. The methods of the RCMP are being utilized in other Caribbean nations

Mr. Nelson had a two-year tenure with the Royal Antigua and Barbuda Police Force. The Mountie was brought to Antigua to take up the Commissioner position in February in order to bring new leadership to the force in the face of an escalating crime rate.

Mr. Nelson’s appointment came after what was called the “Breau Report”. Alphonso Breau, a retired RCMP Deputy Commissioner, was hired by the Antiguan Government to investigate the morale in the Antigua and Barbuda Police Force and to overhaul the operations of the force. The report brought about several recommendations and a massive shake-up which saw the replacement of the Commissioner of Police, Delano Christopher, and other high ranking officials stripped of their titles.

Mr. Spencer stated that a service review by the Police Service Commission leading up to the end of Mr. Nelson’s six-month probationary period, as was stipulated in the Commissioner’s terms of engagement, found him wanting in terms of satisfactory performance.

In an article appearing in the Antigua Sun on September 1 entitled “I was wronged…says Nelson after sudden firing; PM to address nation tonight” by Andy Liburd, it is stated that the Commissioner has maintained that there is no justification for his termination and that he was considering legal action. It is claimed that the Commissioner also said that his dismissal was an attempt by the government to harm his professional reputation.

The Police Commissioner is the third Mountie of four to leave the Antigua Police Force in several months.

Head of the Criminal Investigation Department, Assistant Commissioner Ronald Scott and Deputy Commissioner, Michael O’Neil, both Mounties, tendered their resignation in August and July respectively. Both cited personal reasons for leaving. They had only been in their positions from February of this year.

The lone Mountie remaining is Thomas Bennett who previously had responsibility for operations within the force but who was appointed as the Acting Commissioner of Police in the wake of Nelson’s dismissal.

In another article in the Antigua Sun dated August 28 and entitled “Nelson Booted…Commissioner, third Mountie to go” by Tahna Weston, it is suggested that the Commissioner was at loggerheads with the Police Service Commission over plans, proposals and ideas leading to his dismissal.

“It must be clearly understood that the implementation of the Breau Report was required to be done in accordance with the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda, and the relevant laws and regulations governing the police force of Antigua and Barbuda,” Prime Minister Spencer said.

Inspector Cromwell Henry, Public Relations Officer for the Royal St. Kitts and Nevis Police Force, said that the Police’ understanding of Dr. Douglas’ remarks is that the RCMP is coming to offer training to the local police and not to take up appointments within the force. Inspector Henry said that the help is certainly welcome in assisting the police in their crime-fighting initiatives.

However, he outlined that despite the expertise of foreign police officers, they often find it difficult to cope with a different culture, a different way of policing and a lack of crime-fighting resources which hampers their ability to give their optimum performance.

The Jamaican Government has brought in the British Police to assist in their fight against crime. One of them is former Scotland Yard Detective Mark Shields, who is the Deputy Commissioner of Police and another is Les Green, who is the Acting Commissioner of Police.

However, Jamaica continues to see a rise in murders because of a culture of distrust between the public and the police, a lack of adequate crime-fighting resources and rogue cops. According to a Jamaica Gleaner article dated January 20, 2008 entitled “Murders jump 17 percent in 2007—Crime Chief says greater focus on intelligence gathering this year”, Jamaica recorded 1674 murders in 2005, 1340 murders in 2006 and 1574 murders in 2007.