Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 26, 2018 (RSCNPF): The Regional Security System (RSS) Training Institute (TI) Section Leaders Course 2018 wrapped up on Friday, February 23 with an officer from the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) being named the top performer. Constable Akeem Hendrickson from the Crime Scene Unit, was given the Most Outstanding Student Award for his performance during the intense six-week training course. He described the course as “challenging,” but added that it was very “educational” as well.
“I learned how to be mature about making decisions in every situation, and about being a better role model to my peers, friends, and others. The biggest lesson learnt, for me, was understanding that in order to be a successful leader, I must to be able to be led as well and I have to be able to accept constructive criticism,” Constable Hendrickson said.
Also given an award was his teammate Trevin Mills who received the Instructor’s Award for his perseverance and commitment to completing the course, while Constable Valdon Rogers’ commendable performance saw him placing third overall. The three were part of a team of six from the RSCNPF that also included Tracy Francis, Tarique Jones and Clive Wilson. In total, twenty-nine participants endured the training. Other institutions represented on the course were the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force, the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force, the Royal Barbados Police Force, the Barbados Defence Force, the Royal Grenada Police Force and the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force.
The closing ceremony was held at the Conference Facility at the Customs and Excise Department at Bird Rock, Basseterre. Warrant Officer (WO) St. Clair Williams is the Assistant Staff Officer within the Plans Directorate and was the Course Officer for the recently held RSS Section Leaders Course. In giving the course overview, he explained that it was comprised of classroom, outdoors and field exercises in the areas of leadership, preparation and planning, listening and speech techniques, sequences of orders, logistics and administration in internal security, foot and arms drills, basic principles of tactics, as well as hostage reception, anti-riot tactics and crowd control, among others.
“The purpose of the RSS TI Section Leaders Course was to train Non-Commissioned Officers and potential Non-Commissioned Officers to become leaders, so that they could command and train members under their command,” WO Williams said.
The course motto which was chosen by the students was “The true measure of a person is the integrity of his/her character; never be so proud as not to admit your mistakes.”
The participants were also congratulated by Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, Commissioner of Police Ian Queeley and Executive Director of the RSS, Captain Errington Shurland.
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