Dominica-born, Antigua-based Atlee Rodney, the Police Commissioner of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, says greater involvement is needed by the Dominican populace in curbing the country’s homicide rate.
Rodney’s comments came when he recently spoke to Dominica News Online (DNO), as the country marked its 16th homicide for 2022, on October 31.
The veteran Police Officer contends that community policing is an essential collaboration that identifies and solves community problems, as according to him, the police should not be the sole guardians of law and order.
Rodney averred, should all members of the community become active allies in the effort to enhance the safety and quality of neighbourhoods, this will have a far-reaching effect.
“I think one of the things the police must do is work along with the public. The information about those homicides is within the community and we just have to build a stronger bond with the community and continue to educate our people on how to deal with conflict because there is too much violence as a result of minor conflicts,” he stated.
Rodney labelled the increase in homicide rates on the small island as “disturbing”, further declaring, “one is already too much.”
“In a country such as Dominica 10 and 15 homicides is very disturbing, but the community [has] to step forward and say enough is enough because they know where the guns are and who is committing the crimes and they must step forward to share the information with law enforcement.”
He noted that an increase in criminal activities is not only limited to Dominica but a threat to all member states of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
“A threat to one is a threat to all,” the Police Commissioner posited. “The prevalence of firearms in our small member state is a challenge. There are too many illegal guns around us and too many gun-related offenses which are now causing an increase in our homicide rates which is disturbing to us. We are just hoping that as Caribbean people we will start to see the value of tranquillity and defusing conflicts without violence and that is something I promote not just for Antigua and Barbuda but the whole OECS member state.”
Speaking on challenges faced by law enforcement within the OECS to effectively execute their duties, Rodney revealed that their limitation on certain resources has been a major hindrance.
“We do not have access to enough of the technology that is available,” he noted. “The other challenges that government departments face in terms of the demand shortage, we also within the various police force in the OECS suffer the same thing.”
Rodney continued, “but because we have a strong unity among ourselves, as part of the RSS(Regional SecuritySystem), we work together, we train together and we support each other when there is a crisis in another country.”
As such expressed that this collaboration “makes it easier to overcome some of the challenges that we face.”
When u have police and street gangs hanging out in the same establishment and the street gang/drug dealers have theor guys on them and buying the poice offers drinks, what’s the out does.one expect
Kudos to you a son of the soil, we need more of our professionals out of the country to speak out and offer sound advice, but alas I’m afraid they will fall on deaf ears as usual this recalcitrant administration is full of misfits and square pegs in round holes; the only solution to the problem is to get rid of all of them,period!!!
Mr. Rodney is no exemplary police commissioner. Recently, he ordered many canisters of teargas and showers of rubber bullets on peaceful, unarmed civilians comprised of children, the elderly and others.
He is no independent figure. This minion tries his utmost best to please an audience of one. Too many regional law enforcement bodies are chained to the incumbent political rulers.
The police are failing the people of the region. Fact: The Caribbean region is one of the places that have the highest murder rate in the world.
@MEME
II could not have said it better. Quite frankly, I have said the same thing over and over again on different threads. Everyone from the rank of Superintendent and above MUST go along with a few inspectors and sergeants especially those in task force, SSU and the administrative section upstairs PHQ. We all know who they are.
Rodney played sly with his comments about the real situation existing in Dominca regarding solving crimes. He started off by pointing fingers at the public. The law gives the police the right and the legal tools to address the crime situation in the country. Therefore it’s the police who are responsible and they have to earn their paycheck. I’m sure he knows the reasons why the public aren’t of more help to the police at this point, it’s because the police isn’t seen as willing to do it’s work but instead are more likely to turn on the public to serve their political bosses in their machinations. Who would voluntarily help the perceived enemy? Therefore the police has to restart it’s outreach to the public. Don’t expect that under this current leadership. The criminals look at the actions of the police and are encouraged and emboldened to do what they do. It wasn’t like that before. No wonder the RSS turned it’s ammunition on the sleeping people of Salisbury.
He should have noted that community policing was never embraced in Dominica, when it was recommended and introduced by Dr. St. Jean. He should be aware that the Dominican community don’t trust the police because of the level of politics, corruption and discrimination in the Police force.
The police force in Dominica has become a carbon copy or a replica of the Tonton Maquot/Man-goose gang.
The Masses do not trust the DLP/Dominica Police Force.
Period.
Sir, here in Dominica we haven’t got a police force but rather a militia that is commanded by the CM. The Dominican public don’t trust, hence they don’t work with them. I for one can’t blame them because this a result f selective policing. Unfortunately here in DA some people get away with anything as long as they carry the bible of the ruling party.
Well said Mr Rodney, but Dominica’s problems are complex. Firstly the police force needs new leadership. In my view, top leadership should be sent home.They are all political stooges.They are incompetent, politically tainted, and do not serve the people, but politicians. Secondly, community policing has failed, because most Dominicans view the police as enemies of the people. Even when secretive and confidential information are given to them, they allegedly put the informant at risk.Plenty more can be done to rid our communities of illegal guns. Thirdly, the prevailance of guns puts innocent people at the mercy of illegal gun gangsters and criminals. I sometimes ask whether the gangsters and thugs are armed by people with sinister and surreptitious motives, because even when caught,most get just a slap on the wrist!
Finally when a barrel of guns can enter a country, and a member of the police hierarchy can publicly say he knows who they are looking for, but nothing happens. We fini…