Police officers saluting as the Statia flag is being hoisted.
ST. EUSTATIUS--A small ceremony was held at the St. Eustatius police station to celebrate Police Day on the island on Saturday, October 10.
The COVID-19 pandemic affected this year’s celebration as it has different events all over the world. Normally, the Police Department would invite their system partners and dignitaries to celebrate the day with them, but due to the current Emergency Ordinance where social gatherings are limited to no more than 15 persons, combined with the restriction regarding 1.5-metre social distancing, there were only a few officers present for the special occasion.
Chief of Basic Police Care St. Eustatius Inspector Robelto Hodge (standing) speaking to the officers at the ceremony.
The National Anthems of the Netherlands and the island of St. Eustatius, “Het Wilhelmus” and “The Golden Rock”, respectively, were played at the event. The police officers saluted as the flags of the Netherlands and Statia were hoisted.
Chief of Basic Police Care St. Eustatius Inspector Robelto Hodge spoke to those in attendance at the event. “We know that although they are not with us today [Saturday – Ed.] we know we can still rely on their support,” Hodge stated.
The occasion also marked the 10th anniversary since the Police Corps of the Dutch Caribbean was established. Hodge said, “We are gathered here together today to celebrate with each other as we remember and contemplate the last 10 years. Our team consists of officers who joined the ranks of the police many years ago during the time of the Police Corps of the Netherlands Antilles and the Police Corps of St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius.”
The department also has officers who joined the police ranks after the present Police Corps of the Dutch Caribbean was established. Hodge explained that the police force presently has officers working together with very different perspectives of what it means to be an officer. “I am nevertheless sure that you will agree with me when I say that no matter what era you joined the police force, there are some very similar, distinct factors that we have experienced as officers of the law,” he said.
Hodge said that if a police officer gives respect to the community he or she serves, there is nothing the community will not be willing to do in return. On behalf of the Police Department, he also recognised what a privilege and honour it is to serve and protect as peace officers. He said the officers also recognise that if their community suffers, the police force also suffers along with it, and when the community strives, the officers also strive.
“We recognise that we as officers play a pivotal role in helping other key partners to create and maintain a safe and tranquil society in which all can lead healthy and productive lives and that we cannot be as effective as we can be without the support of the people we are called to serve, so we need to collectively work together to the benefit of us all,” he added.
As the officers celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Police Corps of the Dutch Caribbean as a police force, Hodge said they can be proud of what they have accomplished together. He said that besides this, the department still has a lot of work to do.
He encouraged each officer to not become complacent and relax, because those who choose a life of crime are still very active. That being said, he added that he is very proud to say, together with the inhabitants of Statia, that the police force has managed to maintain a certain level of safety and tranquillity on this island.
“By God’s grace we have to continue working together to secure the quality of life we now enjoy. Our police management, our local island government as well as our federal government have also been very essential to our success,” Hodge said. “By working together they also ensure that police are properly educated and trained.”
The partnership, he said, provides the police with the needed equipment and working environment that is conducive to the force’s continuing growth, development and professionalism, and for that the officers are also very grateful.
Hodge thanked the community of Statia for their continued support and sacrifice. He also extended his gratitude to their colleagues in Saba and Bonaire, the other Dutch Caribbean islands, as well as their colleagues from the Netherlands for their continued support and sacrifice.
“Because of you we have accomplished so much. But, as I stated before, we cannot become complacent, we must continue to support each other, we must continue to help each other, we must continue to work together to maintain what we have achieved together,” Hodge said.
In closing he asked those in attendance to continue contemplating what got them to this stage, and for everyone to continue to pray together, work together and find new ways to serve and protect each other.
