By L.K. Hewlett
St. Kitts Reporter
The ailing Commission of Police Robert Jeffers is said to be on pre-retirement leave until 2008, when he shall retire in February.
Many questions have been raised by the public pertaining to the top cop’s health and his plans as they related to returning to active duty.
Prime Minister of the federation Hon. Denzil Douglas said that Jeffers was on sick leaveand would be starting his pre retirement leave from October.
“Commissioner Jeffers was of retirement age. We kept him because the region wanted to utilise his experience in terms of the security management for World Cup 2007. After the world cup he intended to retire but he became ill before he went. He probably will end his pre-retirement leave in February of next year,” P.M. Douglas said.
A high-ranking government source did confirm that Jeffers was being paid while on leave, although the person did not say if he was receiving his full salary.
The PM went on to say that Deputy Commissioner Meredith Charles continues to be on long leave, being one of the top cops‚ who had accrued long periods of leave. He explained that the government could not afford to pay the officials for in some cases up to two years leave so instead they had opted to make the officers take their earned vacations and leave.
“We are now bringing to an end the situation of some of the top cops having a whole lot of leave. So we are saying take your leave because government doesn’t really have the money to pay you.
“At the end of those leaves, we will make certain decisions. In the meantime however, we continue to give opportunities for management at the top level of the force, those who we have trained over the years at Bramshill in England as top cops.
“We have about five of them and we are utilising them in the absence of the commissioner. They are being given the exposure, allowing them to get the experience so that when the decisions are taken eventually, they would have had the opportunity of having handled the management of the police. Thus at the end of the day we would be able to make some firm appointment.”
The nation’s leader said there is no rush as people were still in their positions until next February. He also re-emphasised his administration’s top priorities to control crime, properly enforce the law and maintain order in the twin islands.
“It’s no good for us to keep talking about bringing investors to live among us and invest their dollars if we are going to be portrayed as a very violent society because the two things just don’t mix.”
