OPPOSITION LEADER EXPRESSES CONCERNS ABOUT  POLICE SITUATION

 At the recent Legislative Council meeting on Thursday 27 July, the Leader of the Opposition the Hon. Ralph T O'Neal asked "what is wrong, and why are the local police officers getting into trouble so that they have to be arrested?" Hon. O'Neal said he had been mulling over this matter for months, and he has always backed the Police because they are our first line of defense but sometimes he wonders when he looks at the local newspapers and sees police officers being charged with assault and rape. Mr. O'Neal went on to say he has checked the number of accusations in the newspapers to the number of persons in the police force and often wonders what is wrong.

Hon. O'Neal said he hoped to have an audience with the Governor on the 26 July, but it was not possible, so he had to scheduled the meeting on the 28 July. The Leader of the Opposition suggested a Police Service Commission as a remedy, and further stated that there is a problem between local police officers and those from other islands. Despite the efforts made during the past years to have local people in the Force, they have not been successful, Mr. O'Neal said; "if something is not done with the top management of the Police Force, we are in trouble".

Hon. O'Neal said from reading the newspaper and listening to the news there is no doubt that crime is increasing and he is conscious of the fact of what happened to some Caribbean Countries and he is afraid that if crime continues the way it is we'll get into trouble. He said crime is battling the Government, and our Police Force has got to be more equipped if necessary, so that the tranquility and calmness that we know here will return.