Police Commissioner outlines plans for the new year

Its a new year and many have already decided upon their New Year’s resolutions and goals, the same can be said for the Royal Police force of Antigua and Barbuda.

According to Police Commissioner Atlee Rodney while 2024 was a productive year for the force, there are still several outstanding matters that need to be addressed in 2025.

Of the most pressing is for continued development in the sister isle.

“Barbuda is developing, we need to have that type of infrastructure in Barbuda,” Rodney said.

This is not the first time that the top cop has made that appeal.

He added that there are still some other police stations across the island that need to be upgraded.

Bolans, Parham and All Saints were some stations that were completed last year, and work is still ongoing at the St. Johns branch.

The upgrading of stations across the island has been a main issue for the force which in the past has led to protests.

Efforts continue to address this issue.

Last year, the force received several high-tech equipment to aid in crime fighting. One being drones. Rodney mentioned that these gadgets have assisted greatly and is hoping to see even more equipment be given this year.

“There are other things that we are trying to get but we have to work with the Ministry of Telecommunications,” Rodeny said.

Additional training and recruitment is also on the cards.

Last November, a new class of trained policemen and women graduated from the training school and while Rodney said this was a major boost to the numbers on the force, there is still a need for more.

“We have the permission already and we will be pursuing that so we can bring the number as to where it ought to be,” he added.