ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Residents on the sister isle are complaining about the shortage of police officers at the Barbuda Police Station as reports indicate the facility is staffed with about half the number it is supposed to have.
A senior official in Barbuda told OBSERVER Media, “The station is supposed to have about a dozen lawmen but at the moment I believe there are six or seven of them. There were more but it seems they have been moved and no replacements were sent for a year or so now, from my observations.”
While acknowledging that Barbuda’s population is bordering on 2,000 people and crime is very minimal, the source said more police officers are still needed.
A current serving senior member of the Royal Police Force of Antigua & Barbuda revealed that the station on the sister isle is supposed to have seven constables, two corporals, one inspector and one sergeant. However, at the moment there are five constables, one corporal and one inspector.
“They have to work at the airport each time a flight comes in and leaves. Someone has to remain at the station; they have to do security runs at Coco Point and they have to do field investigations for old matters and new ones and they have to patrol the place every day all day. Their weakness in numbers keeps showing up whenever something happens,” the source said.
When contacted about the alleged shortage of staff, the officer who answered the station’s phone said to speak to Commissioner Vere Browne who was long ago informed of the situation. The officer said he could not discuss the matter any further.
(source: http://www.antiguaobserver.com/?p=74432)
