Top Caribbean Cops meetfor Conference in Cayman
The Annual General Meetingof the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP)was recently held at the Marriott Beach Resort in Grand Cayman.
Host Commissioner, Mr. David Thursfield gave the welcome address,which was followed by remarks by the Association President, Mr.Grantley Watson, Commissioner of Police for Barbados, who outlinedthe progress of the ACCP and the establishment of its permanentSecretariat.
At the conclusion of the formal opening speeches, His ExcellencyPeter Smith, Governor of the Cayman Islands, highlighted the difficultiesthat face police commissioners in trying to achieve a crime-freeand drug-free society within their countries. He also urged Commissionersto focus on approaches that feature crime reduction philosophiesand community partnerships.
The conference then received presentations from Cayman's AttorneyGeneral, the Honourable David Ballantyne, together with CrownCounsel Cheryl Richards and C.I. Law School Lecturer, Derek O'Brien,on Human Rights and the Rule of Law.
Dr. Edward Greene, Assistant Secretary General of CARICOM spokeon the relationship between the ACCP and CARICOM. The AttorneyGeneral and General Senator from Jamaica, the Honourable ArnoldJ. Nicholson, in his speech, addressed the formation of the CaribbeanFinal Court of Appeal.
Also in attendance to the Conference were U.S. representativesfrom the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) the FBI, the IRS and USImmigration, as well as Interpol.
In his address, Commissioner Thursfield said "there was considerablework for us in the run up to this Conference of around 50 delegatesand observers. This task was undertaken by Superintendent RudolphDixon and a dedicated small team".
Commissioner Thursfield felt that because the Cayman Islands ishosting the premier policing conference in the Caribbean, it putsthis country on the 'policing map' and delegates have a most positiveimage of our country to relate on their return. He was pleasedto be able to report that the Cayman Islands will be the firstcountry in the Caribbean to test the new finger print databasewhich will be used by Customs, Immigration, and Police.
He was particularly pleased to enjoy the personal support of whathe called his "Partners in Crime", notably the AttorneyGeneral, the Honourable David Ballantyne; the Solicitor General,Sam Bulgin, Director of Social Services, Deana Lookloy; ChiefImmigration Officer, Mr. Orrett Connor; Chief Fire Officer, KirklandNixon; Collector of Customs, Carlon Powery; Acting Director ofPrisons, Nicholas Brooke and the Manager of the Chamber of Commerce'sCrime Stoppers, Gaylia Hall
The AACP Executive elected Hylton Guy, Commissioner for Policefor Trinidad, as President, and Commissioner David Thursfieldof the Cayman Islands was elected Vice President.
It was agreed that the 2001 Annual General Meeting should be heldin St. Lucia.