Vincentian born policeman receives national award in Antigua

A Vincentian police officer living in Antigua and Barbuda has received a national award for distinguished contribution to law enforcement, humanitarian and social development.

Sergeant Veldon Ragguette received the award of the Most Precious Order of Princely Heritage (OH) last Wednesday, November 1, the 36th anniversary of Independence of Antigua and Barbuda.

Ragguette, 43, was born and raised in Paget Farm, Bequia, to Yvette Bynoe Ragguette and Stevenson Ragguette. He is the nephew of Rev Daniel Bynoe of Bequia.

Twenty-five years ago, Veldon was recruited in St Vincent to join the police force of Antigua and Barbuda.

In 1993, he was attached to the Coastguard, and while there, he was seconded to the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force until 1996. He then returned to Royal Antigua and Barbuda Police Force, where he has continued to serve with excellence. 

Ragguette was honoured for his work on the “Adopt A Family” programme, which he established in 1999.

The programme was born out of his experience of seeing the poverty in the urban areas of Antigua and Barbuda. Under the programme, he has built several homes for indigent families or those who have lost their homes to fire. Hundreds of food packages are also distributed monthly to the less fortunate.

Ragguette plans to extend the “Adopt A Family” to other Caribbean islands.

He is married to Helen Makhoul and is the youngest police officer in Antigua and Barbuda to ever receive a national award and the only one to receive an award for humanitarian and social development.