Female law enforcement officers gathered on Sunday at the American University of Antigua for the annual Policewomen’s Retreat, held as a complement to International Women’s Day, as senior leadership encouraged participants to embrace self-development and collaboration in a profession historically dominated by men.
The day-long event, centered on the theme “Accelerating Action while working in unison to advance women in law enforcement,” brought together officers from various departments in the police force.
Commissioner of Police Atlee Rodney emphasized the critical contributions female officers have made to the nation’s security network.
“Over the years, you have demonstrated your kindness and your courage, and you have come alongside your male colleagues in serving the citizens of Antigua and Barbuda in a very strong and bold way,” Rodney said.
He noted that female police officers “contributions have been greatly appreciated not only by this [current] police leadership team, but more importantly by the citizens of Antigua and Barbuda.”
Rodney, who noted this would be his final address to the group as Commissioner of Police, urged officers to focus on self-improvement and unity.
“It is time to fully embrace the concept of the theme and accelerate your actions while keeping active in your quest for self-development,” he said. “We must put away simple differences and focus on the big picture as police officers, which is our mission, our vision, which is to serve and protect the people of Antigua and Barbuda with integrity and professionalism.”
The Commissioner encouraged attendees to connect with colleagues from different units and cohorts, saying, “Make new friends; That’s the way we’re going to start by building this unity.”
Inspector Nathaniel Morgan delivered opening remarks that focused on strategies for career advancement, advocating for policy changes to promote gender equality within law enforcement.
“We have to advocate for change and for policy that promotes gender equality, such as protection against discrimination and harassment within the workplace,” Morgan said. “We must be vocal about the things that are important to us.”
Morgan stressed the importance of personal visibility within the organization, pointing out that advancement requires officers to showcase their capabilities. “You cannot hide behind the curtain and expect to be seen.”
Reverend Karen Germain, who delivered the invocation, cautioned against internal conflict within the force.
“Any house divided against itself will not stand,” Germain said. “It is vital, it is crucial that you as law enforcement officers work in unison; work as a team.”
She advocated for a supportive approach to advancement rather than competitive behaviors: “Help assist the sister fix her crown while you’re wearing yours. We are not going to get to the top as women by stepping on anyone.”
The morning program featured an interactive session led by adjunct lecturer at UWI Five Islands Campus, Kethania Griffiths. The afternoon’s activities included a presentation from feature speaker Dawnmarie Hughes, who delivered on the topic “Making a difference in spite of our femininity” along with Dr Cherie Tulloch’s address, “Sexuality & Menopause: How it affects our lives, interaction with family and work”.
In the interactive session, participants were led into a discussion about the importance of “circles of trust”, especially in law enforcement where officers must rely on their colleagues.
In the morning’s plenary session, which brought together officers from different training courses, participants were engaged in focusing on key characteristics they valued in trusted individuals.
The exercise aimed to help officers understand how unconscious bias can lead to excluding people before truly knowing them, creating workplace isolation.
One group emphasized that despite generational gaps and personality clashes in police departments, maintaining respect was essential for effective teamwork.
Another highlighted that these discussions about inclusion should extend to the entire force, including male officers.
