Hotelier to top cops: Get on with job
BERNIE WEATHERHEAD: calling on police hierarchy to focus on fighting crime.
Wed, September 08, 2010 - 11:59 PM
VETERAN HOTELIER and businessman Bernie Weatherhead is calling for the hierarchy of the Royal Barbados Police Force to put aside differences, set the right examples, and get on with the job of fighting crime.
He told the DAILY NATION he was very concerned about the increase in crime, adding that the current “fighting within the Police Force will cause the public to lose respect for, and confidence in the police”.
“The hierarchy in any business must work together if they expect the staff at lower ranks to function.
“Whatever the current problems are, the Government must make sure they are sorted out so that the force can get on with the business of fighting crime,” Weatherhead added.
“Barbados needs a police service which will protect the citizens and visitors of this country, and Government has an obligation to provide safety and protection to the general public.
“My sympathy goes out to the average police officer who is faced with seasoned criminals finding their way back on to the streets through loopholes in the legal system,” Weatherhead said.
“If you have police officers who are going to wake up on mornings and not have the support of the hierarchy and the backing of the courts, I think they are fighting a losing battle.”
The businessman disclosed that he had lost several thousand dollars through car theft this year, with four cars being stolen from Drive-A-Matic, one of his companies.
“A hired car business, Stoute’s Car Rentals, has also had three cars stolen this year. That cannot be the only one,” Weatherhead added.
He noted it was his belief that the cars were being used for criminal activity and were also being stripped and their parts sold separately.
When contacted yesterday, police public relations officer Inspector David Welch said the car thefts were reported, but added that he could not state whether there had been an increase in car theft this year compared to last year.
Weatherhead also related an incident last Thursday night, in which a young man was robbed while retrieving money from a Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) at a Christ Church location.
Weatherhead, who owns more than 15 tourism-related businesses, was strong in the view that the media must draw attention to crime.
“I am not suggesting that it be placed on the front and back pages of the print media, but the citizens of this country have a right to know what is happening from day to day.
“Visitor awareness of crime is most important also, so that neither the Barbadian public nor visitors are living with a false sense of security.” (CH
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For too many years places like Barbados have been brushing criminal activity under the table in order to not SCARE away tourism.
Anyone with half a brain will realize that when you get a large mass of people in a small place you will get that type of actitvity taking place.
It seems like scum are everywhere!
Squabbling within the police force only lets the criminals get away with that much more!
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Comment Linki agree with you one crime is too many. i tired hearing crime down and at ioits lowest compared to last year
crime down where in st lucy in st peter, it down all around us ,i dont want hear bout no stats . plenty unreported crime ,no why ppls lost confidence in police. imagine you get rob and the police telling you if u dont know the man they cant do nothing bout it shame .the commmisoner of police need to resign he and all the top brass that reach 60 they fighting for position thats why they cant see eye to eye.
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Comment LinkWell said Bernie.
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Comment LinkIsn.t it something. 1 day after posting the 2 big wigs smiling in the picture, this article with Bernie came out and he is so true. I esp. like the pargraphs 2-5, forgetting they personal difference & working together to achieve 1 common goal…a safer Barbados, among other goals, to reach a positive outcome. I blog on those 2 police chiefs smiling yesterday & the Nation didn’t print my blog. I guess they didn,t like my comments. But Bernie, you keep pressuring them, maybe they would listen to you. Also, I strongly feel that the newspapers should use there flatform to highlight /bring awareness to these problems, instead of hiding in the bushes. Too much lawless people around. They must be stamp out.
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Comment LinkWhy doesn’t the Barbados Army step in and help monitor the crime hit areas? There presence in these areas would deter the criminals. More monitoring is needed in the St Lawerence Gap area. Try to keep your people SAFE and the visitors to the island.
Use the sources… you have them available…
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Comment LinkMr. Weatherhead is right about the need for the top police in Barbados to take their heads out of the sand and to begin dealing with the worsening situation. I am appalled at the PR efforts by the top brass to convince people that things are not as bad as they appear rather than committing themselves to a redoubled effort to stem the tide of rising crime. A balanced approach to media coverage of crime is also needed. Over sensationalizing the crime wave can hurt tourism and cause a state of fear and panic. Failure to publish what is happening around the island can lead locals and tourists alike into a false sense of security. The media are paid to find the right balance.
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Comment LinkMr. Weatherhead one could not agree with you more, you said it well. The ones at the top has to show unity, even if they have their differences, this should never be aired in the public domain. These two professionals should know better.
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