At the opening ceremony of the Regional Security System’s Unit Heads meeting on Monday, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre emphasised the importance of embedding a zero-tolerance approach to crime from the earliest stages of life and throughout the recruitment process for security personnel.
“Your recruitment policy should be embedded with a solid plan and an avoidance of mediocrity,” Pierre said. “It is very important that you understand that the people from which you have to recruit policemen and soldiers, they come from the very society that you police now. So community policing and getting into the schools so that we can begin the ethos in the society that crime does not pay.”
The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of starting interventions at the primary school level.
“Start from the lowest level, which is the schools, even the primary school. So when you go to recruit people to join the forces, because these people will come from these schools, they must understand and they must grow up with the idea of the philosophical underpinning that crime does not pay. And the only way you can do that is if you start from the schools speaking to the young people.”
Pierre warned against the allure of crime and corruption, urging a societal shift in mindset.
“The allure of crime, the allure of corruption, the idea that making a dollar is always necessary. You have to start from the beginning. So the people that join from the ranks will have a different view of life. Because you can do whatever you want here. We can talk whatever you want here. At some point in time, all of us will have to leave and some other people will have to take over the jobs that we do.”
He concluded with a clear directive: “It’s important that in your recruitment policy, you start from zero tolerance towards crime and you ensure that the society listens and understands that crime does not pay.”
The Prime Minister’s remarks underscored the government’s commitment to proactive, community-based approaches to security and the long-term shaping of societal attitudes toward crime.
