On Saturday 29th May 2021 a contingent of fourteen (14) police officers from the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda (RPFAB) were deployed to St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to assist with security and humanitarian efforts.
The officers departed Antigua on a Regional Security System (RSS) aircraft from the V.C. Bird International Airport around 1:30 p.m.
Commissioner of Police, Atlee Rodney was present at the time of departure and used the opportunity to express his profound gratitude to the officers for undertaking this mission.
He admonished them to continue to be ambassadors for the nation of Antigua and Barbuda in the performance of their duties. The Commissioner wished the officers a safe journey and a successful mission.
The Antiguan contingent will join Assistant Commissioner of Police Desmond Dinard who left the State on Wednesday 26th May 2021, to be the RSS Contingent Commander. Members of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF) will also be joining the RSS contingent in SVG.
The deployment is in keeping with the mission of the Regional Security System (RSS), and its commitment to the region in matters of national security; especially during or following the occurrence of a natural disaster. Presently, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in the midst of an ongoing volcanic crisis that has left parts of the territory currently uninhabitable.
The contingent of officers will be on the ground for at least three weeks, in the first instance. These officers will be tasked with assisting their regional counterparts with the maintenance of law and order and humanitarian efforts as volcanic activity continues in the Caribbean territory.
