Hotelier to top cops: Get on with job
BERNIE WEATHERHEAD: calling on police hierarchy to focus on fighting crime.()
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.” (C) (Nation News)