While admitting that Dominica had a “reasonable” 2014 from the Dominica Police Force stand point, Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Assistant Superintendent Claude Weekes, says maintaining public confidence in the police is critical if they are to continue to be successful.
“I think we need to continue to work a lot more in seeking to sustain the confidence of the public in the police,” Weekes told Dominica News Online (DNO).
“That is very critical for ensuring that the community thrives economically, socially and otherwise. So the public and the police, we really have to be, if you like, in bed, have that good cooperation, that good mutual respect and understanding. And if the public is with us I can tell you we can definitely see light at the end of the tunnel.”
He said crime fighting is every body’s business.
“Just as we say tourism is everybody’s business, just so, we can say combating crime is everybody’s business. One crime is indeed too many, one murder is indeed too many and we all have to work together to stamp it out; we have to break the culture. As a people, we have to understand that we have to renounce and denounce crime with utter disgust and disdain from whatever family, community, and as a nation,” he said.
Meanwhile about police performance during 2014, the police PRO said, “like everything else, it was a challenging year for the police, to be honest.” adding that they have sought to do their very best despite their limitations.
He is also pointing to the drug trade, domestic violence, theft/burglaries, sexual offences and juvenile delinquency which he says affects the secondary schools as matters which are still heavily populating the criminal assizes.
“But I think we can deem it to be reasonable, because really and truly Dominica is a relatively peaceful place we understand that there is the inevitability of criminal activity we cannot run away from it but we have to seek to minimize the impact, and controlling and managing crime.”
I like Weekes but my confidence in him and the police has been shaken not only by the many comments about the irregularities and seeming incompetence of the police in investigating criminal actions but also by blatant in your face corrupt acts.. How for example can the police during criminal investigation and trial of Renneth Alexis call Alexis and ask him to come and obtain his gun which was the lethal instrument in trial in his intimidation of a number of persons at Savanne Paille??? And the mess of handling the Emanuel arson? Is it now four years of invwevstigation into the Emanuel case??? I do not believe these cases and the charge of poltical protection of “DLP higher ups” is going to inspire confidence in the Police..Sorry Weekes
Mr. Weekes is walking a very fine line but I can not think of anyone better to do the job he does. He has to be truthful and at the same time watch his superiors to make sure he does not say anything that upsets the political reality. I would not want his job for all the tea in China. Thank you Mr. Weekes.
The year has just begun, and the police department still has the same attitude towards the public. Just this past weekend, several calls were made to the police re; loud noise in the goodwill area after midnight, such a close proximity from goodwill to the police headquarters, and yet still nothing was done. Violation of the Noise Act is against the law just as any other offense in Dominica, yet still it is not taken seriously. You at your home trying to take a little rest and you can’t cause inconsiderate people around you decide that they don’t care about others, just themselves. This is the Dominica we live in unfortunately, the year will end and start again, but people’s attitudes will never change, and neither will the police.
Such a shame
Disappointed
……………….They abuse their powers in so many different ways even to the point of death in a police cell and they are shameless in their open support for the opposition party to the extent of negotiating with the opposition salary raise for the force. They are so take up with opposition party politics that they even salute the leader of the party in public. See the number of times police officers have been sent packing (administratively most times) for criminality. I have never seen this before. the police force needs to reinvent itself. No amount of intelligent talk by ASP Weekes, himself a creature of the police can take away the sorry state of Dominica’s police force. It started when top brass was decapitated in the 1995-2000 era to make way for lesser known party supporters to head the police.
mAN OH MAN,you came with fancy words and playing daddy to the public now you get what you deserved,proper records must be kept,mobile phones are for emergencies,face to face is the answer and how the matter was dealt with and the outcome.so all are together in this but records must be kept not only in the police force but in all offices.get auditors to ensure records are properly kept and things run smoothly we know you can do it.
And patrol vehicles are not to go shopping or visit girl friends.
Mr. weeks I am not anti police and came from a long line of police officers in my family. I can no longer trust the police because of certain things I see that is happening in my country. here is a list of a few
1) the fire bombing of senior citizens and the unwillingness to arrest the top players and political influence in the force.
police giving drug dealers information and is transferred when caught.
2) a police officer who sing red songs was charge for the disappearance of cash and is more active with a promotion.
3) the attempted framing of lennox linton by tony and his cabal in an attempt to jail lennox with regards to IPO documentation, police solved the case and found the Mr. Astaphan at fault with no arrest of the alledge criminal.
4) undervalue of land to fleece the treasure
5) bribery of voters
6) theft of Cuban students stipend.
7) assets that does not match salary
9) police who spy on ordinary Dominicans because they are vocal about what is happening here.
What about the police office who was in charge of a particular police unit and the evidence of was damaged by fire under his watch. Since he was transferred to another section of the police force and has since joined the UWP grass roots campaign. He is still responsible for a drug lord going free. No wonder “Ti papa” suffered the consequences of the self same drug lord spending money in the constituency.
In previous years much occurred in D/ca. Since there were no TV’s, computers and Internet, we heard very little of the goings-on and for some, nothing at all.
There are times to see and not to see but direct your concerns and complaints to the proper authority. Maybe some of these people should be less vocal. If they want to be vocal, they should open their own talk show program.
I reside in a country and when I have concerns I discreetly write the proper authority. Let them handle the situation. I would not go about blabbing my mouth for all to hear. People should utilize their common sense and diplomacy if they have any. They act as if they are authority and try to take matters into their hands. Nothing is achieved by this. I notice this right on this Website. This is another problem in a small country. Some do not know how to bridle their tongue. They must get into trouble because they are too free with their mouths.
Mr weeks, my brother, with all due erspect , i know you means well, but this position is not for you,anymore you need to read the verse of scripture that peter r augustin ,and bill ,never read in ,EXODUS,23; 8 , and all you believers who accepted gifts from skerrit and now cannot call a spade ,a spade ,should also read it, The scripture also say ,you shall be persecuted for my name sake,but it seems children of GOD are trying to escape these persecutions by compromising with sin ,
Skerrit saw that you mr weeks once stood your ground ,and he victimized you in a way to break you out of your real you ,whick was controlled by your gODLY concience ,and now when he thinks that he got you where he wanted you ,then he re engaged you into the position like he is giving you a gift,
MR weeks ,you should not have accepted this gift,it is a decietful gift , GOD’s gift is greater, I know you mean well ,but you cannot do the things you should do whice in this position ,your hands are tied ,
I have been thinking the same thing, regarding Mr. Weekes. Can he effectively do his job, as his conscience leads him too?
Who asked you? You are crude, rude and disrespectful. Have respect for authority. What is it like in your personal lifestyle? Maybe you should take care of that.
Did police investigate blatant/open cases of bribery during the election? NO
Did police get reprimanded for KILLING a man in his jail cell? NO
Did police question Roosevelt Skerrit and Anthony Astaphan for knowingly and wrongfully setting up Lennox Linton and the IPO, having Linton’s house searched for info they themselves released? NO
Did police arrest the guys that attacked my brother in front the police station, that live less than 5 minutes away, that everyone saw try to kill him in broad daylight? NO
Has GON Emmanuel gotten any justice for attempts made on his life and that of his wife? NO
Need I continue for you to get the point WEEKES? NO
Do your jobs, at least try to do it well, call for more resources if thats what inhibits you from serving the public properly. Skerro has gazillions for foreigners. Maybe have him bring in a squad from Barbados, if you can no longer do your job!
First of all respect is not commanded, it is earned and long gone the days when the public was eager to divulge information leading to the arrest and successful conviction of perpetrators.
But Mr Weekes, the force is comprised of some seriously dysfunction crookes. officers who would come to your home to solve problems and in return attempt to sleep with your wife or kids, officers who would be armed with warrants to arrest persons and sleep with them to avoid them being arrested.
Officers who would go through the station directory and see who has made reports against their boyfriends or husbands and target them. officers who would target people who has money and bleed them dry. officers who would alert their friends when the police are about to make a bust on them.
Dominica can truly and proudly boast of having one of the most disciplined and honest force in the Caribbean and maybe even the world by extension. Its comprised of individuals who actually put all their best into…
You are fortunate you reside in Dominica where there are no Laws against the defamation of character of government officials. Otherwise you would be charged, arrested and imprisoned or pay a huge fine. It is time the D/ca Laws are revamped accordingly.
oh shut up fool
Confidence in police? We are glad they are there but for instance, there is a ‘NOISE ABATEMENT Act’ law on the books and the police have brought the people of Grandbay to their knees with loud music. Police are in bed with the noise makers knowing there are laws to enforce against loud music and ‘disturbing the peace’.
Can Weeks explain the police role in this especially in Grandbay? Especially the systematic torture of his wife’s 90 year old aunt in the little wooden house next to the loudest music little rumshop. She told me that she has stopped calling the police since the day that they were also in the rumshop when her grand daughter approached them begging to help her and her grand mother by doing their job asking these shopkeepers to simply lower the music, she was severely insulted by the same police. Since then repeated calls to police they have never showed up or do anything to assist these people tortured by this loud music. What confidence, can citizens have in…
That noise is a menace, a torture and a health hazard. For God’s sake do something to uphold people’s rights to the enjoyment of a peaceful existence! I sometimes think we are worse than barbarians.
Mr Weekes, Police PRO,
I am not hearing anything in relation to the death of Joshua Etienne of Picard who died in Police custody at the Portsmouth Police Station. Please enlighten the public as to the status of case. Joshua Etienne’s death should not go down as just another number in the records. The family needs justice, and the general public wants justice to be served.
MR WEEKS we are very sorry you have maintained injustice in all your responsibilites fix them then confidence in the police will be strengthened you and yours sallaries comes from the public funds ;the death of people in the police costudy; standing against the poblic supporting polictical gain;justice for GON EMAMUEL .JUST TO NAME A FEW THE CHARGES FOR LICKING OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION OF peoples declaration questions was ask to MR LINTON WHAT OF THE REST;the missing keys of the registery MAN GET THE HELL OUT OF THE PUBLIC PURS MONIES FOR DIRTY WORK NO CONFIDENCE NO NO NO.
Well Mr. Weekes, if public confidence in the police is critical for success in 2015, you might as well plan for a very disappointing 2015 because we have lost all confidence in the police and that will not change until there is a government that promotes justice for all. When promotion is based on who is doing and willing to do Skerrit’s work, how in the world will the public have confidence in the police? It is a fact that the public has lost confidence in all institutions that once upon a time made Dominica a lovely country. No so now as in the last 10 years we have lost confidence in the Church, that was once God’s voice to the nation, the police that once defended our constitution, the court that once upheld justice and other major institutions. Dominica is in a very sorry state now and I expect it to get worse in 2015.
You hit the nail on the head sir …thank you very much!
Assertive, NOT Aggressive!
Mr gon emmanuel needs justice and i am calling on the primè minister to resign.
“So the public and the police, we really have to be, if you like, in bed…” Say what? At the risk of ending up with very fickle partners, police in bed with the public in Dominica will never be accepted as consensual. Instilling a culture of integrity in our police service demands that we should first strive for that level of professionalism that would make moot, any suggestion of police being “in bed” with the public at any level.
If you want a police force that commands respect in the community and in the country’s, first of all detach yourself from this government. Secondly detach yourself from the stigma that there is one law for some people but not for others, i. e. How comes that some people have to pay the vehicle license others don’t have, because they know somebody in the force. If you want respect you need to earn it. As it stands right now, Dominica is a Banana Republic full of corruption and that does not make easy work for any serious police force. Fight the evil at it’s roots and the rest will follow suit!!!
You have said everything correct except for “How comes that some people have to pay the vehicle license others don’t have, because they know somebody in the force”. If that happened then the vehicle may have a a “sticker” on it signed by the officer but the vehicle is still unlicensed. This unfortunately will never be caught less there is an accident involving the said vehicle and all hell may break loose unless the sticker with the officer’ signature is removed before police arrives. On the other hand, the officer may still get away with it by saying the driver showed him a receipt indicating that the license was paid before he issued the sticker. So there you go, corruption to the core… Consider yourself apprised.
Assertive, NOT Aggressive!
The police are in danger of being politicized. How can you have a jumped-up former police corporal chastising the police force for not being loyal the govt.? They should be loyal to the law and not subject to political directives. That is a sure way of pissing off a lot of police personnel and losing the public’s trust in the force. Put a halt to this please, get back to discipline and remember the oath you swore on your appointment.
As a servant of the people and served with pride. We have to be realistic we cannot do the same thing with the same result. My humble opinion its local knowledge, Police work in many cases is tough but nevertheless the culture has to changed I mean give jack his jacket, if we seek change we have to start within the police Force. Bluntly! our police force not with standing our limitations must mirror what we preach. Too often we have a force within a Force, A crab in a barrel mentality. I know been there done that!! Serving and protecting the Citizens and creating an atmosphere of true tranquility must be our first priority. The chain is as strong as its weakest link, and if the police is not safe no body else is safe. We are more in numbers that the bad guys and Law and order must be maintained!!! A house divided amongst itself cannot stand. Despite all the fancy languages and spin we place on our Force. The more things change the more it stays the same. We all in this together.
Bah, humbug! You talk about fancy language and spin and then come with a blog laden with tired platitudes and cliches: Give Jack his jacket, “been there,done that”, “the chain is a strong as its weakest link”, “a house divided cannot stand”, “the more things change, the more it stays (sic) the same”, “we all in this together”. Next time be a bit profounder and give it some original oomph please!
Mr. Weeks I know you got your job as PRO back- Congratulations – but please stop being an apologist for an incompetent , inept and politically corrupt force. Your officers can arrest poor peoples’ children at will, not prosecute big wigs that are in bed with political bosses, have a heavily armed garrison at the airport to protect Diaspora voters AND ect ect. Yet still you call for confidence in the police. Dream on Mr. Dream on………… My wish for 2014 is that you are not replaced again as PRO.
Mr. Weekes you could’nt be more right than that but you all in the police force really need to do some house cleaning to begin with.
I must commend Asst. Supt. Weekes for his candid comments on the operations of the Police Service in 2014. He made no excuses for their failures even though he did not mention them in particular. This is a good start for the New Year.
However, if he wants any real improvement in public/police cooperation, there must be serious and visible action in dealing with some blatant delay/denial of justice, such as the four-year old GON Emanuel case. Are Dominicans going to see the Police Force extricating themselves from their apparent political control?
Clean up the political influence in the force. Charge and remand officers that killed the guy in Possi. This will go a long way in reinstalling trust with police and public. Remember the force is there to protect citizens first, all citizens and to enforce the law without prejudice.
Unfortunately the public has the wrong idea of what the police are suppose to do. They are not there to protect you. They are there to enforce laws and and aid in prosecuting law breakers. The problem in DA is that for the most part the public is not allowed to protect themselves fully. And I can certainly understand why many would not qualify for firearms simply because they are irresponsible. However, the other problem is that the criminal have and use firearms. The police can not be depended upon to respond to incidents in a timely manner and their record keeping is atrocious. There are few follow-ups that result in any action. That is why there is no confidence in the police. Most are there just to collect a pay check.
I agree.There’s no one to answer to.Like I said previously,politics has successfully divided the police force. Zero respect for subordinates, depending on what political side they’re on.Their needs to be a total cleansing of the DPF,starting from the top.There will be no difference if it remains the same.I use to be a proud member of the real DPF.We still have fine outstanding officers who are qualified to turn the force around,if they free politically .
The public are always with the police but, is the police with the public. No police do patrol,At the station you don’t know who is sergeant or private all dressed in plane clothes. when a police get out from a police vehicle he is dress in boxer shorts,so discipline must be maintained,the uniform issued must be worn,and we need to strengthed the police force,we always hear of policemen and not police boys.the rest is down to you Sir