How Allan overcame my first major hurdle in Bermuda.

After reviewing my resume and interviewing me, The Bermuda Police Service offered me an opportunity to be police officer in Bermuda. If I were to accept the post, I was required to resign my position, as a police officer and stop being a member of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force; an institution I had faithfully dedicated almos...t ten years of my life to, in service; move to the extremely small island of Bermuda; a place where I had no family member, I had no friends; As a matter of fact, I did not know anyone who lived or who had even visited the 22 square miles island.

This was stepping out into a new world, not knowing what to expect. However; I was ready for a new adventure, so I packed my bags, say good bye to my family; my friends, everything I knew and have grown to love, and I moved to Bermuda.

Once I made up my mind there was no turning back. I resigned my post with the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadine Police Force; knowing I was, one of the Prime Minister of S.V.G: Ralph Gonsalves fiercest critics, there was absolutely, no turning back.

The Prime Minister was extremely happy to get the rid of me and would have done anything, to ensure, if my Bermuda adventure did not worked out, and I return to the island, it would have been the dirty pleasure of Ralph Gonsalves to ensure that I returned to and remained in St. Vincent and the Grenadines unemployed. At least unemployment would have shut me up. At least that was what he thought.

However, I had no fear, for I was always able to legally, make money in St. Vincent and the Grenadine. As a preteen and as a teenager, I participated in a range of activities to make spending money. From pushing cart, which involved, taking the traffickers produce from the street outside the harbor to the loading dock on the wharf, where the produce were shipped to Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and other islands. We also took the groceries and other shopping of shoppers from the supermarket, etc. to the bus stop at the Market square. Another means of making money came when my friends and I, went to Gibson Corner after school or on Sundays, to picked Hog-plums and Jaw-plums, or to Molly Gutter or to Sweet Side to pick mangoes which we offered for sale, as we walked home on our long journey. I also dived whenever a tourist boat was in the bay; and I did not have to go to school.

I was also a Boat Boy. This responsibility, saw me getting up each morning before 5:00 AM, to prepare the fishing boat: for my friends to go fishing. My responsibilities included, putting a 45 Yamaha outboard engine unto the St. Lucian crafted canoe, ensuring said engine is properly secured, load and securing 6 or 8 fifty gallon Jerrycans of gasoline, into the boat in such manner that they became ballast, ensuring the boat run at its optimum and smoothly even with the weight, and even in rough water.

I also went to the fishermen's place of meal, collect and pack their meals, so they had something to eat while they were hard at work in the middle of the ocean. I also make sure their hook box was replenished and well stocked with all that was needed for the day’s fishing trip. After which, I see them off, prepare for and went to school. At this stage of my life I was a student at the Intimidate High School, AKA Timmy School which got out at 1:00 PM. Upon the return of the fishermen from work, it was my responsibility to ensure everything was ready for the next day's fishing trip which include replenishing and mixing the gas etc.

In short, I was responsible for ensuring Captain Eddy AKA Fry-rice, Center-man: Dougie "Bumps" Baptiste, and Bow-man Vincent Prop Williams job was easy. All they had to worry about was to find and catch the fish, which they did very well. On their return, I was responsible for putting away the equipment, taking their catch to the market and selling it at the very best wholesale price to the vendors, or if it suited me, I haired a fish vendors to chop the fish (sell the fish retail) for me.

The more money I made, for the day's catch, the bigger my reward for my job. In the Daulphin (Mahi Mami) season, the money I earned from being a boat boy was extremely good; however, in the Hine season, it was rough. In the Daulphin season, when the guys had an extremely good day, they can make up to three or four thousand plus dollars each in one catch, that means I could make up to $200.00 - $300.00 for my share and after selling the dolphin or King (King Tuna) fish, I get to take home, my days take, could put me over four $400.00 (Four hundred dollars). Not bad for a teenager.

When it was good it was very good, however, when it was bad, especially in the Hine season, where the guys fished bottom-line, it was really, really bad. For days or at times even weeks, I worked without pay, or my take was very small; because the catch poundage were small. there were more heads per catch, but smaller fishes resulted in less weight, means less money for the catch.

This job came with one set back. The owner of the boat was rumored to be a homosexual. I was offered the job, by the crew, because of my honesty, they knew I will not steal from them; as the Boat-boy before me often did. I expressed my concerns about the rumored homosexual practice of the owner. Without admitting or denying their knowledge of the boat owner's homosexual habits, they all assured me that I will be ok; they will ensure of it.

When My father got word of my boat boy activities, he had word with Dougie, Eddy and Vincent. My father not taking any chances; went and had a one and one with the owner of the boat. I did not know what was discussed; however, I knew, I did not have to worry about any homosexual advancement from the boat owner and there was none.

The very day my father die; was the very day, I give up the boat boy job. I did not show up the following day, under the circumstances, no one expected me to and I just stop showing up altogether; no explanation given. I know, I was safe as long as Daddy was around; I was not willing; neither was I going to take any chances with my safety. My father was the only one I could depend on to keep me safe.

I have since left those childhood hustle behind, now I was in Bermuda Where policing was my concerned. I was ready for Bermuda, thanks to Station Sergeant Calbert Straker. In a short time, Mrs. Straker made me into, an excellent police officer as he said. I was confident, fearless, very intelligent and I knew how to police. However, I had one problem, in St. Vincent and the Grenadine Police Force, we used registers, (big books) to record everything, from, detailing personnel for duty, which was the duty rooster, to keeping track with reports that were made: the crime register, Petty Offence register accident register etc.

In Bermuda, every things were computerized. Everything was done electrically; the only writing one were expected to do were to take basic notes, with which an officer, used in reference, to update the computer system and statements when they were so required. This made life easy but first I have to learn how to effectively and efficiently use the system. We were given a crash course in using this system, however, the amount of hours, for the purpose was not enough. At this stage of my police career, policing came extremely easy for me; however, because of the computer system; I was at the mercies of the officers, I worked with.

Ralph Gonsalves had his connection in the Bermuda Police Service, There was Superintendent of Police Randolph "Randy" Liverpool, a Vincentian, who went to Bermuda back in the day. He was one of Gonsalves' personal friend. He had it all set up for my failure before I arrived in Bermuda. To cover his dirty intention, Liverpool, would, invite me to his home for Sunday lunch, which was prepared by his wife, who was one of the most genuinely beautiful people you will ever meet.

When it was time to hit the streets of Bermuda: Randy Liverpool plans went into full operation. I was assigned to Hamilton Police Station and Senior Superintendent of Police Liverpool, brought in a seniors constable Colin Paynter from St. Georges Police Station, to work on A watch at the Hamilton Police Station. Up to this point in Colin's twenty plus year’s career, he had sat and failed the Police Sergeant Promotion exam five or six times. Superintendent Liverpool, promise to ensure Colin get a past on his next Sergeant's exam, if he give me a hard time. I don't know where Edwedina Oldbouy fit into the scheme of things but she and Colin were allied.

Every day like clockwork, Colin Paynter found something to publicly embarrass me about. His objective was to beat me into insecurity. This was supposed to be easy. After all, I was in a strange country, with no support mechanism; his task would be like taking candy from a baby. At first, it was errors made in the computer system. For this he had Edwedina, with whom I regularly partnered. She often, knowingly, showed me how to enter the information into the computer incorrectly, after which, she told the error to Colin Paynter who took the liberty to publicly humiliate me.

When I caught on to what Edwedina was doing, I became very annoyed. One day, before we fall in for duty, I had a chat with Edwedina. I said to the senior female constable, "one of your responsibility is to help me understand how to use the computer system, but you have been intentionally misleading me, in order for Paynter to publicly humiliate me. I paused to look for a sign of sorrow from chubby beautiful lass, but she stood and look at me steel face. Then she reply, "I don't get your pay, so why should I do your work?" I said to the lass. "I don't need anyone to do my work, you guys were instructed, to help the new foreign police make entries into the computer. That's all I am expecting of you."

I then said to her, "I resigned my job and I left my country, I don't have anything to go back to. I have no choice but to learn this system, I am not only going to learn this program, I will master it, and you will have to come and asked me how to use it." As a result, I stop asking her how to do things, with Sgt. Grime's help, I became a master of the police system. Not even the IT guys could have misled me. It was not to long after the same female police officer and other officers who were using that program for years before I did, was coming to me, for my help on the system. Later when Edwedina was given the short term promotion to acted as Sergeant, she always detailed me to work with her. Because she knew, there was no situation I could not deal with and it was an opportunity for her to impress the bosses; what better way to do such. However By this time we had put the pass behind us and had established a good working relationship.

Now there was still the issue of Colin Paynter, within a few months, thanks to the help of Sergeant Gregory Grimes, I mastered the computer. I don't know what Mr. Grimes was told about me, but very soon, he realized I was a very hard and very knowledgeable worker; and I did not waste time in the office like most West Indian and some British officers did, trying to milk the system for overtime. As a result, anything he could have done to help me he did. I was at ease going to discuss matters with Mr. Gregory Grimes. Thanks to Sergeants: Mr. Grimes and Mr. Jermaine Tucker, I was the first and probably the only police officer to date, to take an impaired driving (drunk, or high driving) matter before the court without medical evidence and gain a conviction.

It was going into month number two and I still had Colin Paynter on my back, every day, he had something to chew me out for, now it was grammatical errors, I did not make. Here we have a police officer, who can harely read, but he was able to find basic errors in my writing. Errors I did not make.

Sgt. Grimes the supervisor of B watch, always relief us. By this time, and in an effort to shut, Senior Constable Paynter up, I began doing my updates in Microsoft word, where I paying close attention to my Grammar, ensure that each word was spelled correctly, and double checked the synonyms and interchanging synonyms as suggested by Microsoft word. Yet, Colin Paynter often came up with grammatical and spelling errors that I knew was not there. I could not dispute his findings, because it was there in black and white in the updates.

I knew something was wrong, Mr. Grimes who was a brilliant Sergeant, he asked me to work over time for him. After checking my updates, he say Palmer, I double checked your work and all is well. You can go; the next day Sgt. Grimes came into work earlier than normal, under the guise of "too catch up on some outstanding work" and he began to work. After I completed my updates, Mr. Grimes call me, he said, "Palmer have you finished your updates?" I said yes Sgt. Grimes". All this time Mr. Grimes was in my updates and found all to be perfect. Then he said to me, "Palmer, why don't you over your updates, just double check it, and if you are satisfy with your updates, print a copy of your updates, read it over and if you are still satisfied with it just hold on to it. It could come in handy.

I did not see the point in doing this, but Mr. Grimes had never led me wrong. Mr. Gregory Grimes was five years my senior; but he possessed a level of wisdom and experience of one that was twice his age. He was one of the few people who had nothing to prove to anyone. Grimes was never promoted beyond the rank of Sergeant of Police, because, he loved being a Sergeant and refused to be promoted even at the bidding of police management; however, Mr. Grimes had prepared almost everyone to successfully take the inspector exam. He practiced integrity both in his police and personal life; As a result, I did what Mr. Grimes suggested even though, I did not see the value in his suggestion.

While I waited to be officially dismissed, Senior Constable Colin Paynter entered the station, and went to my work, he printed out my updates, and he started to point out spelling and grammatical errors. Then I heard the voice of the wise Sergeant Grimes, echoed in my head. If you are satisfied with your updates print a copy keep it, it may coming handy.

I looked at Senior Constable Colin Painter, I smiled then I said, I don't know whose work you are looking at, but that's not one of my updates, I pushed my left hand into my pocket, I took out several sheet of paper bearing the updates I did, then I tell him, you or whoever unedited my updates should go back and re-edit them, I lay my printed copy of the updates on the desk where Paynter sat next to the Station Duty Office (SDO) work station. Paynter looked at me with his eyes wide opened like a kid who was caught by his parents with his hands in the cookie Jaw.

I then took my notes, I said to Paynter, I will see you guys tomorrow. Sgt. Na’imah Williams, my Sergeant, was in the small Sergeant's office, with Mr. Grimes, listening to the whole exchange. Mr. Grimes who occupied the Sergeant's chair, was still focused on the computer screen; then he made a sharp momentary swivel around in the chair he occupied, he looked at me, gave me an approving smile and a nod of the head then he immediately; span the chair back to face the computer before which he was working, then he went back to work, Sergeant Williams, who is probably the most beautiful female in the Bermuda Police Service, on the other hand, looked at me with a big satisfied smile on her face, she then nod her approval to me, indicating I can leave, then I left and went home.

The next day, when we paraded for duty; Senior Constable Paynter was not at the parade. It was then the watch was told; Senior Constable Paynter, was sent back to St. Georges Police Station

True Story - Police Constable Palmer meets the Giant

 

I was working at the Biabou Police Station, when, Station Sergeant (SS) Cuthbert Straker was transferred to the Biabou Police Station. The year was 2003; The authorities fed SS Straker with many misleading information about me. They were still trying to force me out of the organization.

They were hoping, SS Straker add to the mountains of mis...s deeds and miss Fortunes I had experience so far. But I overcame each challenge and each dangerous situation that was put in front of me. The authorities were hoping the SS and I butt heads and he created an unpleasant place for me, at the Biabou Police Station.

One day, After the stand-offish SS Straker, warmer up to me, he declared, in a heavy, slow, lamenting, voice, as he sounded out each word, for two seconds of more depending on the amount of syllables the word had, SS said: "Palmer; you are nothing, like what them say you are like." He stressed each word for emphasis. He paused for a few seconds, then in quick time, as if he was in a rush, he bloated out; "them say you hard to get along with." Then back to his slow speech, "you are one of the easiest man to work with. You are not lazy and yo know yo job. Palmer you are a good police, but if you follow my instructions you will be an excellent police." He said. I gather from the Station Sergeant’s statement that meant; he was going to teach me what I needed to know, to be an efficient and effective police officer, anywhere I work. The SS was right. Under SS Straker, supervision and tutelage, I became an excellent police and my Bermuda experience was a testament to that fact.

SS Straker quickly learned, I like to work alone, he also realized; when I worked alone; I got all of my and general assignments completed. Liquor license check, investigation, arrest of the wanted; those who had committed offence, arrest on warrant executions. I never had an outstanding case file and every Thursday at the Biabou Magestrate Court day, I had two, three or four case in Biabou Magistrate Court and up to that point, I had only one case dismissed.

Superintendent Cornelius Charles on the other hand, hated SS Straker; he often tried to embarrass the SS in the presence of the staff. He did so on each visit to the station. Why he put so much effort in belittle the knowledgeable supervisor, I did not know. Sensing I was doing a large volume of the work at the station, which was reflected by the records. The Superintendent, also tried to use me to belittle the SS. He often said things like: "the commission should send you home and let Palmer run the station, Palmer will do a better job than you." SOP Charles rhetoric had an objective, and his objectives had nothing good about it.

The SOP realized, all aspects of my policing had developed and he suspected; SS Straker was responsible for my quick and sustained development. SS Straker did not only teach me, he also gave me the opportunity and the space to grow. He continued to give me more and more responsibility; and I loved it. When the Station Sergeant was dissatisfied with something I did. He broke out his favorite line, Palm-mer," he will say in a slow lamenting tone, “You are one good police, but If you listen to me, you will become an excellent police; but you didn't listen.

This was often an opportunity for further teaching and clarification on some issue of law, police policies and or procedures; a weakness in a case file, etc. I was developing and I was developing fast and I was getting things done. I never took the Superintendent's words seriously, and each time he tried to use me to belittle SS Cuthbert Straker; I brought it to SS Straker's attention, in the presence of the other staff member. I let them know what was SOP Charles objective; which was trying to stir up disunity, between the helpful SS Straker and I. I let everyone including the Station Seargeant know, how much I appriciate his teaching and confidence in me.

Station Sergeant Straker; ran a clerically tight ship, all his records were always in order. However; there was an outstanding warrant, for none payment of fine. Each time SOP Charles came to visit the station, he spoke of the outstanding warrant. He also accused the staff of being afraid of the man, for whom the warrant was issued; hence the reason, the warrant was not yet executed. I did not know this man, as a matter of fact, I was from Bottom Town, I am not afraid of anyone, was my attitude. I hated it when he accused the staff me of being afraid, of the wanted man. I could not speak for the other members of the staff, but my solo arrest record would say I am no coward.

When I was assigned to the Biabou Police Station, only a week into my transfer to Biabou Police Station, I made my first arrest in Biabou completing and submitting my case file within a week. I was out on country patrol and Investigation, in Simon AKA New Prospect, there was a fellow, I wanted, for a case I was investigating. A Cutlass (machete) bearing man was pointed out to me, as the man I was inquiring about. The suspect was wanted for praedial larceny/threft (the theft of agriculture product) one of the matters I was Investigating. This man had to be arrested. It was my case file and therefore it was my responsibility.

This was so because; I could not depend on the other constables at the station for help, the senior constable was always drunk, the tow of the other three younger, and junior constables, who was from the area, want to prove, they knew more than I did. And therefore, they refused to help and or corporate with me in any way; While, the other became a police officer, in transit, to his papers for his green card being approved. They all were always in trouble for not submitting their casefiles in the requiered times.

When I asked the constables about the suspect, they said they did not know him. Even though, they knew the fellow, they all knew how he looked, they knew where his parents lived, where he slept, where he frequent, etc. yet they refused to assist me, with the needed information; information the y had.

This man had to be arrested, and it was my responsibili to effect the arrest. As a result, I approached, disarmed and I arrest the suspect. I was on foot patrol therefore; I walked with my prisoner, from Simon/New Prospect big corner, to Bridgetown, where the Biabou Police Station was located at that time. I was not afraid of anyone, anything and or any situation, except.....

SS Straker, understood how I worked best, he knew I loved to worked alone; as a result, when there was real pressing work to be done, it was normal, for him to assigned me on Investigation and to do whatever was needed to be accomplished. On this day he assigned me on Investigation and he said to me, "Palmer; we have to arrest that man with the warrant to shut the office mouth. That is the only thing he can speak about when he visit the station". SS Straker said if we get that man, all he can do when he comes to visit the Station, is to sign the records and go on his way.

The SS was new to the district and he did not know anything about the man to whom the outstanding warrant issued for and neither did I. Therefore, I took out a few warrants included the outstanding warrant. The man was living, on the south eastern corner of the Lowman Windward Bridge, opposite the old Banana boxing plant. On several occasions Sgt. Francis received information that the wanted man was on the Lowman Windward Bridge with his friends. Each time we arrived there; he was no where to be seen.

However, today; I was going to take this a little further. Because the houses/building in St. Vincent and the Grenadine are not number, it is difficult to know who live where. I drove on to the Lowmans Windward Bridge, there was a group of young men hanging out on the bridge chatting, which is very common.

I asked the guys on the bridge where the wanted man lived. I was shocked when without hesitation; they volunteered the information to me. Up until the time, the guys give me the information, I did not know where the subject lived. At first, I was apprehensive about the information. If they were right why would they volunteer the information to the police so freely and so easily; as far as I understood the guys were all friends.

The guys on the block were all excited, as I left them and I drove over to the house. I got out of the marked police vehicle, walked up to the two story house and I knocked on the wooden panel door that secured the northern side of the house. A young man came to the door of the house, I asked him if he was the name that appeared on the warrant, he replied yes.

With the young man's answer, immidiately; a lot of thing fell into place. Now I understood why the young men on the bridge so quickly volunteered the information, I also understood, why the three police officer, who lived in the area, never attempted to arrest this young man. Now it was totally clear to me; what the Superintendent of Police Cornelius Charles meant; when he say: "you all are afraid of the man; that is why he has not been arrested."

The guys on the bridge knew there was an outstanding warrant for their friend, but no police have ever attempted to arrest him. They also thought the confrontation between both of us, would have been an interesting and funny one to witness, and they wanted to witness it.

When the young man who stood before me said, I am him, I took one look at the young man and I said to myself; what did I get myself into. I was a skinny, 175 pounds police officer; 180 pounds when I was wet, 5 feet 11 inches tall law enforcement officer. The man that stood before looked about 6 feet 5-6 inches tall, and about 350 pound of solid mass. There were only three other people that could be compared with this young man and they were my cousins Coldrick Young, his little brother Elroy Young and Arthur Puss and I was always on these guys good side.

My feet were already in the shit, and the stink was burning my nose. There was nothing else I could done but to deal with the situation I was now in. I could hear the muffled laughter of the guys on the bridge, as they looked on in amusement as the confrontation unfolds, right before them. It must have been funny, looking at me, as I looked up to the giant to speak to him. I knew, I could not back down, if I did, I would not be able to face myself or any of the people who witness the confirmation. I need to be able to serve the community without such a blotch of cowardice hanging over my head.

In analyzing the man, his height, his size, his possible strength, I know I could not match strength with this man, but I was faster than he could ever be. If this matter broke out into a fight; it will serve me good not to make these giant lay hold on me. In speaking to this man, it was extremely important that I was careful not let my voice or my words betray the anticipation I felt, "Hay na big man”, I addressed the man; not because he was big but because I always address every male suspect as big man.

Everyone; like to know and be called the “Big Man” “I have a warrant for none payment of fine for you, this warrant was outstanding, you have one of two choices. You can pay the outstanding monies you have for the court or I will have to arrest you!” The Guy looked quite shocked at my lack of fear and the irreverence showed for his size, but the level of respect I also give to him as a fellow citizen.

The young man was bear back and standing on the inside of the house with the door partly ajar. The young man was not a full muscular specimen, but he was not a fat fellow either. He was a farmer by profession and therefore, the young farmer had a firm body, one of a person who worked hard and long hours, chopping, digging, lifting, etc. The giant looked at me, and I looked at him. It seems like it is going to be a stan

Then he replied, to my ultimatum, I guess you will have to arrest me. I said to myself; here we go again? Although they could not hear the conversation, I was having with the wanted giant; I could still hear the muffled laughter coming from the group on the bridge. Then the young man spoke again, breaking the short moment of awkward silence we had, he said just give me a moment to put on a shirt and a shoe. I told the man it was not a problem.

He left the door slightly ajar, The young Giant then disappeared from the place where he stood, while we chat. Then he soon reappeared fully clad. He locked the door to the house, held up his two hands to me, with his inner wrist to inner wrist so I can cuffed him. I said to the young man, I don't think there is need for that. I said go around and sit in the front seat of the vehicle; which he did.

All it took for him to avoid the police was for him, to shut the door, leaving me outside, and go and watch TV. However; he corporated with me every step of the process, he was not in the least display any rudness or disrespect of me, my office or my intent and declaration to arrested him. I thought it was only fitting that I saved him any further humiliation.

I drove a little faster than I would normally drive got the giant to the station where he was processed. Needless to say Station Sergeant Straker was happy and surprised. SS Straker said "but Palmer Me na know that man was so big, how you manage to arrest he by yourself?" See More