‘Be the eyes and ears of the members of the RSVPF’: Miller

Commissioner of Police Keith Miller has appealed to communities across St.Vincent and the Grenadines to partner with the Royal St.Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force to “kill” the “monster of crime”.{{more}}

“We want you to be the eyes and ears of the members of the Royal St.Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force. We cannot do it on our own. This is why we are going to the length and breadth, throughout St.Vincent and the Grenadines to ensure that we control crime and criminality among us,” said Miller.

His appeal was made at the Pan Against Crime Third Anniversary Concert, staged at the Stubbs Playing Field on Sunday, February 27.

He used the opportunity to commend members of the Pan Against Crime Committee for their consistency in keeping the organization alive.

Miller also lauded the Government for allocating another $150,000 in the National Budget to run the programme for 2011.

He said over the past three years, over 1,000 children and young people have benefitted from the initiative. The Social Investment Fund (SIF) was also commended by Miller for lending support to the Pan Against Crime Committee.

Praises were also showered on parents for their support.

“This programme is not only geared at young people because we want to extend a hand to the entire community. We see this initiative as part of the community policing initiative.We have to use that strategy in an effort to bring crime to the ground,” said Miller, as he promised that the Committee will continue to partner with parents, inter-agencies, non governmental organizations and civil society.

Anglican Archdeacon Father Clive Thomas, addressing the gathering, disclosed that as he sat and contemplated his message, the question crossed his mind:

“What is the value of my life?”

He said God created everyone “good” in His image and likeness.

“Why then are our people involved in crime and violence? Why then are our young people in particular, being drawn to activities that do not really speak to the value of their lives?” Thomas asked.

He said he believes the answer lies in how people think about themselves.

“As young persons, as young boys and girls, if you do not think of yourself as being good, if you do not think of yourself as being created in the image and likeness of God …then you will be opening up yourselves to what other people think of you in particular negative ways,” said Thomas.

Member of Parliament for South Windward Frederick Stephenson congratulated the Pan Against Crime Committee for the success that they have reaped.

He said the programme is the brainchild of Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

“What a great way it was to incorporate the steel pan, the only new piece of instrument of the twenty-first century to help our people and to reduce the incidence of crime in our beloved St.Vincent and the Grenadines,” said Stephenson.

He said as Minister of Culture, he want to see steel pan here return to the level that it was.

“Not behind Grenada, not even behind Trinidad, but in front of Trinidad and Tobago. I believe all of us here would love to see St.Vincent and the Grenadines reach the stage where the steel pan industry is ahead of Trinidad and Tobago,” said Stephenson.

He said he has discussed with the YOULOU Pan Movement the staging of a national pan festival in September.

Sunday’s concert was held under the theme: “Play a Pan, Arrange a Song, Build the Mind, Down with Violence and Crime”.

The event was attended by Permanent Secretaries Rosita Snagg and Godfrey Pompey, as well as National Security Advisor Sir Vincent Beache.

The crowd was entertained by students of the Stubbs Primary School and pan music provided by South East Steel Orchestra and Elite Steel Orchestra.