Police Public Relations Officer ASP Claude Weekes has responded to criticism of police inaction and a lack of police presence in Roseau during the just concluded first Test between the West Indies and Australia.
Three Australians were attacked and mugged in the capital while they were on island for the match, prompting many to denounce the police for not being visible enough.
Some said a visible police presence, while there was a flood of visitors in Dominica, would have served as a deterrent for those with criminal minds.
But Weekes said on state-own DBS Radio’s Talking Point that the police were out but cannot be everywhere at the same time.
“A lot of people seem to be saying that ‘oh where were the police?'” he stated. “We can’t be everywhere at the same time. That’s a fact. We have been out…”
He stated he is optimistic the police will make a breakthrough in the matter and said that officers attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) are currently doing their investigations.
Weekes also mentioned that law enforcement, as customary, work with various stakeholders whenever there are international teams coming to the island.
“I can tell you any international team that’s coming down to Dominica, we work with the partners and other stakeholders to ensuring that not only the game within the park goes on well but the protection of players and, of course, people alike…” he remarked.
More visitors are expected on the island when Dominica clashes with Canada in the second leg of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers at the Windsor Park Stadium from 7:00 pm on Thursday.
Weekes the labour puppet needs to go, do the country a favor an resign. thank you
You cannot see the future, cannot foretell it and what will happen in the future.
You people watch your words as imbedded in your hearts. They will return to haunt you and to condemn you.
Sack the fool this should never of happened
Mr.Weekes if you are real family man ,who cares for people ,the best advise that i can give to you now is…put your feet down together with your colleges on a serious strike and ask for the laws to change,because you must have seen the effort that the police put in to arrest a thief,murderer and rapist ,yet in a short period of time they pass next to the same police who arrested them and nag them,,,you had a good turn over to make a change to kurb lawlessness,i guess you have received a spanking on the butt you have turned back to what you were before.everyone knows that the cops cannot be ever where at the same time but in such a small place crimes should not go unpunished…there should be a fund to give to the public who gives the right info. in order to arrest criminals…
It would be wise to find out about their schedule. Which police officer(s) were on patrol and where? How many of them work on one shift especially in the evenings?
BUILD A JAIL take the DRUG MONEY that is confiscated and build a secure jail. You want security for
the citizens, the businesses,tourists etc let those guys build a secure place to put themselves.
Some may say I am mean but until it hits home, you never know.
Dominica too small for that.
Why so much talk about what Skerritt and the Police is not doing, my aunt from Sailsbury got robbed in Roseau by 2 bandits at knife point, she reported to the police nothing happened. Every time I plant ground provision in Sailsbury heights they steal my food on Sundays, I report to the police they never come to my garden snd see where the damage is done. Crime against Dominicans is rampant. Some thing happens every body is sad ? What about my aunt is any body sad. Crimes against any body is sad. We should not totally crimes against sny body. Every body cares about one thing Tourist won’t come back. If you pr ople care about crime you would work with the police to stop crimes against all hums n beings not just strangers. My Aunt wants justice too.
Mr. Weekes , Skerrit have you on bending knees.
Assertive, NOT Aggressive!
Who feels it knows it. They say the same about police all over the world. But, I always say if any police officer is worth his or her stripes, they should take the good with the bad. That’s just the way police life is, n but my collegues I say stand your ground, be professional, and protect life and property. As the saying goes they never need the police until some bad guy or girl come knocking at their door. Without a doubt we have one of the best police force bar none, I the Entire Caribbean.
Your comment is at the most silly and preposterous. Most Dominicans know that the days of police patrols of Roseau in particular, is a thing of the past. Guess if Skerrit was at a barber shop cutting his hair, every policeman would be on patrol around that place.
He is the PM. It is imperative, without a doubt and criticism, that he has overall protection.
According to you al police cannot be everywhere all the time, however over 30 plus were deployed to use tear gas on villages have a peaceful demonstration, today you can see a good number of them at public work where struggling men and women are expressing their constitutional rights in a country where there, s no justice and those who are oppose to what is going on in Dominica today are being victimize and intimidate by Skerrit and his bunch of tugs and also them police wearing military fatigue the military arms of skerrit, what about to serve and protect, skerrrit, the president, and the members of skerit… clang are not the only ones to protect in Dominica, visitors and Dominican need protection as well, when I say visitors I amnot referring to the so called Dominicans/cows those milking the inland, mydominicatradehouse have a blast selling Dominica, you and that ex police sorry excuse is lacking substance, it took your government, your minister of tourism four days
Weekes you need to retire and go drink some coffee,the the police force in dominica is being used to guard the supreme leader and indimidate the citizens when they protest,this will all come to pass soon Weekes continue being a leader of the regime and the other fools,your condemnation of the crime should not take a week for a response,just tell the citizens the truth that you must only speak when Skerrit tell you to crow.
You do not comprehend their positions as police officers. Make it your business to learn about it.
pay them no mind sir… some people believe police is Bat Man. When u have policemen preparing their court statements , those that are detailed at the state house, those who just got home after 7 days to see their family for one day and back to work, those that work 25 days with no rest days and still trying there best to serve the public … its not a sweet life.. policing is alot of stresssssss… All police officers cannot leave their work to complete and be on the streets of Roseau, we cant stop crimes completley …. And in a previous news item somebody commented about police in the charge office forming the : i dare u to work two midnight shifts in the charge office and tell me how it is… who feels it knows it….. ON THE OTHER HAND … those Australians came to dca and want to be Roseau by themselves well high, dont u expect ….. to happen…. but unless somebody doe daycalay them lil thieves there they wont behave… P.S Mr Weekes is one of the best police/superintendent…
Thank God you’re an ex-police, you were going so good till you said about what they think, these people were here before and did not have that problem, Mr. Weeks we need that CCTV in town from now on. Imagine these guys knew you all was out and about and they did this imagine if you all was not out and about, these guys are not fearful of the law anymore, but when caught you will see them on here saying they won’t be the 1st and they wont be that last, please come out now and say so, you all will come when its you all friends and family.
Criminals always chose the time when there are no police officers around. They do scrutinize the situation and then make their move to prey on their victims.
Dont be a coward. Put your name to your article. When i joined the force there were about 270 police officers. There was always a visible police presence in roseau. Now there are over 400 and they are invisible. Roseau is still the same size. There were traffic cops ,CID and beat police. The police force is like a modern boy scout there is no planning except for carnival.
These officers of the Carbon Daniel Police Force (CDPF) otherwise known as the DLP-Ton-ton-Macoute would not even know what the phrase “beat # 1” means farless for beat patrol. Just a bunch of stooges spying on each other and their neighbors for politicians. Gone are the days when you, Butch, Melo, Alpe, Press Bannis, Defoe. A, Brian Paul etc were REAL officers. Sad but true, these were the days when officers wore the uniform with a sense of pride. But, C’est lavie!
Assertive, NOT Aggressive!
Weeks you all have displayed nothing but incompetence in this matter and you all should just shut the hell up and stop making petty excuses to cover you all’s ….. There was one incident on Friday evening and you all showed no response, this lack of response by you all embolden the criminals to attack on Saturday. you all are partially responsible for the attack and the people should include the lawmen in a lawsuit against the state.
Added to that whilst the international press had this story going and putting browse on the fragile tourism industry, the government and the stake holders waited until Tuesday to issue a weak statement for public consumption. This is the highest level of incompetence that i have witnessed. From the time the incident occurred on Friday night there should have been police patrol through Roseau and stationed at the hotels. This just goes to show the care and attention that is placed on the productive sectors in the country and what is important to…