Former Officer joins Legislature as Sergeant-at-Arms

The Legislative Assembly’s
new Serjeant-at-Arms
Javin Powery

Tuesday,  November 29, 2005

Caymanian Javin Powery the new Serjeant-at-Arms at the Legislative Assembly, brings to the post some 20 years experience as a police officer. 

In his post, Mr. Powery will be working for both the country’s representatives and the people they represent for sizeable portions of each working day when the Legislature is in session.

His years of experience covered duties performed within many areas of police work including the Special Branch, National Security, Traffic and VIP protection as well as being involved in tackling major incidents and drug interdiction. 

After graduating from John Gray High School, Mr Powery joined the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service as a constable for two years. This was followed by a two-year stint with Cable and Wireless as a Stores Officer where he was responsible for the day-to-day running of the Stores Department. 

He then returned to the RCIPS as a constable and later became a sergeant, performing general police duties. He also worked as a supervisor of a Uniform Support Group Tactical Unit and was responsible for training when attached to the K-9 unit. 

His technical training includes a desk officers’ course in the British High Commission in Jamaica; canine training and K-9 instructor training in the US and the UK; novice diver and sports diver training with the British Sub Aqua Club, courses on “Essentials of Supervision” by the CI Chamber of Commerce and “Customer Relations” by the CI Department of Tourism.

Serjeant Powery is no stranger to ceremonial duties. He took part in such duties performed by uniformed law enforcement officers in ceremonial parades for many special occasions and traditional events.

His duties include attending upon the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly and to perform ceremonial duties.

The Serjeant-at-Arms’ role is to establish a high level of surveillance and security for the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly, the House and its precincts. “Precincts of the Assembly” means “the entire building in which the Assembly sits in session for the transaction of business, together with the car park, the front steps and all areas within the cartilage of the building.”

One very visible duty of the Serjeant-at-Arms in the Legislature when it is in session is during the Speaker’s procession every morning and afternoon. On every such occasion, the Serjeant leads the Speaker in and out of the Chamber bearing the shiny brass Mace on his right shoulder.

The Serjeant-at-Arms is the Custodian of the Mace, an essential part of the regalia of Parliament. Without it, the House is not constituted and no proceedings may take place. It is the symbol of the royal authority and, in consequence, of the authority of Parliament.

In Parliament, it further symbolizes the authority of the Speaker.

“Mr. Powery is responsible to the Speaker for the maintenance of good order throughout the House and its precincts and to remove persons directed to withdraw from the building. He is to exercise supervision over constables assigned to duty in the House, to regulate the admission of persons to the Press Gallery, the Public and VIP Galleries and to supervise and control the admission of visitors to the building and to conduct tours,” the Clerk of the LA, Wendy Lauer, explained. 

Welcoming the new Serjeant-at-Arms, Ms Lauer said: “We are delighted that Mr Javin Powery, a young Caymanian, has been appointed Serjeant-At-Arms of the Legislative Assembly. With his experience in special branch work, national and VIP security and, with his long service in the RCIP, he is considered well equipped to undertake the duties of this important post in the Parliament.”

Regarding his new assignment, Mr. Powery said, “To me, it is a great challenge because the House of Representatives, the Parliament, is an icon of the Cayman Islands.” He added: “I see security here as being a very vital role.

“After serving my country well in another government body, I look forward to serving my country for many more years. As a young Caymanian, I would encourage more fellow Caymanians to represent our country and get involved.”

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