The Royal Anguilla Police Force became 41 years old on January 27, having been established in 1972 to assume responsibility for law and order, replacing the London Metropolitan Police who were earlier on the island following the 1969/71 British occupation.
The observance of the anniversary, marked by a week of activities, commenced last Sunday with Police Officers attending the worship service at St. Augustine’s Anglican Church, East End.The activities, largely designed to bring the public and the law enforcement officers together in a number of social engagements, have as the theme for Police Week: “Celebrating Our Achievements, Recognising Our Challenges and Embracing New Alliances”.
The service attracted a capacity congregation among which were members of the Voluntary Korps of St. Maarten and members of the Police/Community Band in Anguilla. Among the officials attending from Anguilla were Governor Alistair Harrison, who has responsibility for the Police; Deputy Governor, Stanley Reid; Attorney General, James Wood; Elected Member for East End, Jerome Roberts; and Members of the Opposition (Evans Rogers and Othlyn Vanterpool.) Notably absent were Chief Minister, Hubert Hughes, and his Ministerial colleagues.
The service was conducted by the Rt. Reverend Errol Brooks during which the Scripture readings were delivered by officers of the Anguilla Police Force.The Police/Community Band played two selections which attracted much applause for its high level of performance.
During the course of his sermon, Bishop said there was an assumption that only the Police were responsible for upholding law and order, but he emphasised that it was also the responsibility of all members of the public to do so.
“It is the responsibility of all citizens to be law-abiding,” Bishop Brooks told the congregation. “We are to assist the Police in the execution of their duties. We are so happy that our Police Force has decided to join us in this act of worship. I wish to extend congratulations to you on your 41st Anniversary of Police Week.
“I have taken note of the theme for this anniversary celebration: ‘Celebrating Our Achievements, Recognising Our Challenges, and Embracing New Alliances’. It is always good to celebrate accomplishments. We must use them as building blocks to move higher and to move forward…While we celebrate our accomplishments, let us not be bogged down on those. We have to recognise the challenges that we face at the present; but I want us to do more than just recognise challenges. I would like us to seek effective ways and means of addressing whatever challenges are confronting us.
“When it comes to embracing our alliances, this is brings the right blend to what Paul is saying to us today: we need to work together; we need each other. We are part of the global village … Our actions and decisions impact others.”
Bishop Brooks, who stressed the need for unity in the Police Force, the community in general, and in the Church, continued: “Too many divisions exist in our society. We are not running the race together as a team, but rather we seem to be individual athletes in competition. This competition between groups and individuals is strong and even becomes counterproductive towards the achievement of the common goal. This society is not moving sufficiently towards its common goal.On the contrary, there is much evidence that we are moving increasingly away from the common goal…
“The lack of team work in human society is unfortunately replicated in the Christian Church. Rather than working together as a team, we are far too divided. Often it seems as though we are working against each other…In society, we can be more compassionate just by focussing more on others and less on ourselves. While we cannot change our societal attitude on a systemic level overnight, we can, and we must, change our attitudes. If we can begin to move more towards an attitude of community, and push away from individualism in our personal lives, … we will at least have made a good start.
“In our Churches, we must move towards greater ecumenism. We must move towards greater inter-faith dialogue…It distresses me when I hear branches of the Christian Church saying that anything that is ecumenical – the churches coming together – is the work of the devil. It beats me how God’s people, seeking to work together,can be the work of the devil. It boggles the mind. We must begin with ourselves, realising that men and women of faith, world-wide, have good intentions.”
Following the service, contingents of the Royal Anguilla Police Force, the visiting Voluntary Korps from St. Maarten, accompanied by the Police Community Band, staged a march-past drill on a section of the main road near St. Augustine’s and back to the Church.
The impressive event was witnessed by Deputy Governor Stanley Reid, Bishop Brooks, Police Commissioner Rudolph Proctor, members of his Management Team and St. Maarten Police colleagues.
Police Week climaxes on Saturday, February 2. The main activities will be a Kiddies Jamboree on the grounds of Police Headquarters at 10 am; and the Police Dinner and Ball at La Vue (Back Street, South Hill) in the evening.
