Over 200 members of The Barbados Police Service (TBPS) were recently rewarded and saluted for their contribution to the organisation during an Awards Ceremony and Presentation of Service Medals of Honour.
And acting Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams lauded them for their commitment and dedication to TBPS and Barbados and encouraged them to continue exercising discretion while carrying out their tasks.
Mr. Abrahams said: “Let us divert people even before they get into the system. Sometimes, the police officers can exercise discretion; sometimes you can have a word; sometimes the strict, forceful enforcement of the law may not actually yield the result that you want. See yourself as your name implies as a service organisation….
“You have to be nimble enough and care enough about your job, your profession, The Service and the public of Barbados, to be able to exercise your discretion in a way … that promotes law and order, but also maintains a harmonious relationship between the police and the public of Barbados because I think that is critical and crucial.”
He explained that his Ministry (Home Affairs and Information) would be taking the child justice legislation to Parliament. He pointed out that this legislation “kicks in” after somebody has been charged.
“Once you’re charged, there are certain avenues for diversion where we can, instead of going down a strict criminal process, try to give you every opportunity based on accepting what it is that you did, and being penitent and actually learning from what it was that you did. We give every opportunity to divert you out of the system….
“If you speak to a man, …and you show him a level of understanding and reason with him, or a child, you have a better chance of converting that person to becoming a useful citizen than you have if you enforce their compliance by force,” Mr. Abrahams surmised.
In praising The Barbados Police Service, including its band, he commended the Commissioner and officers for their community policing initiative.
He said the organisation had evolved significantly and the lawmen were now more highly trained, with more resources at their disposal to effectively carry out their work.
Commissioner of Police, Richard Boyce, stressed the importance of police officers living by the motto “more than my best I cannot do, and less than my best I will not do”.
He said The Service’s leadership was “very pleased” with their performance and urged them to “keep on doing what you are doing; it can only redound to our benefit”.
Mr. Boyce continued: “We are very proud of each and every one of you. I ask you to keep on the right track. There is a lot more work to be done, and we can only reach and achieve our goals and objectives for the organisation if you the members…keep the light burning….”
He encouraged the lawmen to continue embracing and following the ideals of The Service. During the afternoon ceremony, held at the Barbados Workers’ Union, Solidarity House, Harmony Hall, St. Michael, 147 persons were given the Barbados Service Medal; 49 received commendations; and 37 were presented with the Service Medal First Clasp.