True Stories - The four most rewarding moment in my policing career.

#4 Solving the noise problem (Bermuda)

In Bermuda, I had developed a reputation for bringing resolution to ongoing dispute. as a result, the police dispatcher will send me to those problems that the other officers had tried and could not bring resolutions to. It was a Sunday evening, I had as my partner PC Diamond, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Diamond was a Sergeant of Police, who spent most of his policing career gathering intelligence. On this occasion, I was Diamond's senior. I did not know about my partner's general policing ability, for in just under less 10 years of policing in SVG, I have never seen Diamond in police uniform, and I never knew about Diamond policing until I worked as an intelligence officer.

A call came over the radio to my unit, and we were dispatched to a loud music report in the vicinity of Mission Corner in the City of Hamilton Bermuda. There was an ongoing dispute, which involved neighbors. a couple had Just invested in a new two story house, on the Junction. This was one of the trouble area, in the city of Hamilton. The neighbor had a large Yard that bordered with the new homeowners house. However; the neighbor had a weed (Marijuana) operations going on, on their premises. They play loud music, while they sell liquor and weed. Their operations is a night operation.

under the cover of darkness, was when the music is turned on, and business get rolling. All this was unknown to me at the time of dealing with the incident. When we arrived to the scene of the incident, the couple who made the report was nowhere to be seen. They did not want to get involved in their own report and help to bring a solution to their problem. However, I wanted to know, what was the nature of the report. I heard the music and it was not, particularly loud, comparatively speaking. But to exist in such condition seven days a week, is asking too much of anyone even me.

I knocked on the door. and after some time a couple eventually came out, and explained what they were going through and what they had to deal with, on a nightly basis. I could hear the frustration in their voices. They had just completed the house and they had never, spent a quiet night in their new home. It was almost impossible to hear the TV the wife said to give us an idea of the magnitude of their problem. They had also called the police repeatedly with no redress to their problem.

The music was loud and coming from a building in the yard. The yard was pitched dark, I could not see anything in the yard but I could smell the strong aroma, of the dry Ganja (Marijuana) leaves when lit, coming at me. The Yard has two large gate both of which were open. I confidently said to the couple, don't worry; I will take care of this problem tonight. You will not have any more problem with these people from tonight I said. I open the driver side door, I said: "Diamond lets go" Diamond got into the car. I saw an eruption of disbelief on the couples faces. As if to say, you just give us your word that you are going to fix our problem tonight; why are you leaving.

I give the confused couple a reassuring smile and they looked back at me, even more confused than when I first re-entered the car. Diamond fixed his seat belt, unaware of what my plan was, I started the marked police vehicle, the Bermuda Police Service vehicles are equipped with first class emergency roof system. Apart from the flashing lights there are front spot lights, rear spot lights, left and right side spot light, all of which has very bright illumination. In addition to those; there is an external driver side manually operated spot light. I had spent many hours trying to figure out how to operate every feature in the emergency system; now I knew it like the back of my hand.

Now it was time for some actions. I turned on all of the spot light on the car, and I drove into the yard, when, Diamond realized what was happening; in a panic and in naked Vincy dialect he said: "boy Palmer way yo doing" I said to him: "We are serving the people's problems, that is what we are being paid to do". I stop the car in the middle of the now well illuminated yard; and I immediately 

i got out of the car. There were small groups of people all over the yard, lean up smoking, some had beers in their hands as they drank and smoke.

Surprised by the sudden police intrusion, they all froze in their last action. By this time Diamond had also disembarked the vehicle. In a laughing mocking manner, I said, Ahhh, It look like Marijuana is now legalize in Bermuda. Then I said don't worry, we did not come for you all; We are here on other business. I said the first thing I want the music turned off. A female voice said turn down the music, I said "I want the music turned off. Who run this operation, the female and her son came out to me, speaking full Bermudian. After I lay down the law, I told the woman she can turn on the music now. Then I had the couple determined the level of volume they thought was reasonable for their comfort. When they agreed on a level of Music, I said to the home grown DJ; turn it down a notch more and he did.

Then the lady broke character, and she went into full Jamaican twang, hoping she can intimate me. I then said, "YOU JAMAICAN ME VINCENTIAN ME NA FRAUD YOU!" she threatened my with Obeah and I responded to her threats with the most confidence. I added; as a matter of fact, I am giving the man my personal number, even if I am not on duty, and he calls me and complaint; I will put on my uniform, and come just to take you to court. I then left and that was the end of that problem. There was never another complaint from that location.

STORY #3. 

I was assigned South Western Police District assigned the the Biabou Police Station. One of my colleagues was investigating a matter that was made by a man with a history of mental illness, it was either wounding or assault bodily harm against one of the popular young person in the Greggs community.

My colleague recorded a "dud statement," the supervisor review the report and did not make anything about the report. My colleague intention was to, sit on the report for a few months, then summit same, recommending complainant take civil actions, which would have deprived the injured man of his day in court, and have a criminal on the streets not paying for his crime.

The people of Greggs Village had confidence in my integrity and knew no matter who the accuse was, I will always do what is right. Members in the community told the young man's mother to request, I look into the matter for her and I did at her request. After a discussion with Sgt. Ashley Francis he handed the case over to me, I scrapped and then retook the complaint statement, restarted the investigations, had the suspect arrested taken before the court and justice was served, the so-called "crazy" young man received Justice. He was no longer picked upon and abused because they were poor and the police refused to do their job.

Now the community knew that his reports are taken serious regardless of his pass mental history.

STORY #2. 

When I was transformed to Chateaubelair Police District and Station, The people of Chateaubelair made me feel at home, The people of Chateaubelair embraced me like I was a long lost prodigal son that has just returned. This may be so, because in the 50s and the 60s Chateaubelair was my father stomping ground, and quite a few people there still remembered and loved him. In the 70s my big sister Chrisceda Palmer work at the Canadian Save the Children fund early childhood facility in that town, and in the 80s my sister Clare Palmer was the nurse in charges of the Chateaubelair Health Center. Now in 2000, or there about, I was serving the community in the capacity of a police officer.

Very soon into my stint in the rural North Windward community I quickly became crossed threads with some dangerous men from the illegal drugs community in Chateaubelair and Pittibordel who threatened to take care of me, and this was not a good thing. I had my jaw bone fractured while in the process of appending a so-call crazy man, I had stood up to one of the None Commissioned Officers (NCO) who try to disrespect some honest law abiding citizen, by humiliating three of their sons who were to appear before the court, etc. I was not in charged but I was fair to all and therefore demonstrated my fairness as a police officer, ensuring everyone were treated equally, and they were not denied their rights.

However, at the time I was pursuing a program in Addiction Studies at the University of the West Indies, campus in Kingston St. Vincent, I had to commute back and forth three times a week, to get to and from class. The authority thought it will be better if I was moved closer to the campus, which resulted in my transfer.

On the morning of my transfer, while I was having breakfast; one of my colleagues said Palmer did you see what is happening outside, I said no then he said come and see something here. When I went to the door of the Police Station and look outside, I saw an assembly of a small protest, of about 15 – 20 adults; the protesters did not have any placards; however they were voicing their opinion. I can hear them say: every time we get a good police in the area, you all always moving them, “why all yo moving Palmer, why ‘all yo’ don't move James”, one of the protesters shouted their dissatisfaction with one of my Colleagues, then came an eruption of voices all in agreement “yeah, move James.”

I was shock and happy that the impact I had on the Chateaubelair community in my short stint there, was as such to merit such a response. I did not know how to deal with this new occurrence; all I could have done was too helplessly push up my shoulder, and give them the facial expression, that it is out of my control. After which, I was hurried out of the Chateaubelair Police Station by the NCO in charge, and left for Central Police Station.

What was most surprising to me, was in the small crowd of people who had staged the protest, in front of the Chateaubelair Police Station, there was a particular man in the crowd; one whom was considered a town character. Interestingly, I have never spoken to this man, but always give a friendly smile, and a nod of my head, when I pass him on the streets, he was not just in the small crowd, of people that gathered at the Chateaubelair Police Station; but he was expressing his displeasure at my transfer in clear cohesive language; not dirty words as he was known for. I did not know the man was so articulate, until that very moment when I heard him in the crowd. The thoughts of this incident make me emotional also. It is always a good feelings when the people you have served express their gratitude for your efforts.

STORY #1. 

I was on investigation duties in Greggs Village; I drove to the end of the Greggs Main Road, in search of information about a particular suspect. There was a very poor old woman who was living in a house in that area, I knocked on her door, to solicit information; she came to the door to see whom it was. She was one of the elderly women that witnessed me in action against the three young men with the Marijuana cigarette.

On seeing me, she said in Vincy dialect: “Officer Palmer ah you. Come in Palmer don't fraud, Me na have much but you can still come in.” unfortunately; she was not understating the reality with her words. She pulled up a bench and she said Palmer have a seat. I walked into that beautiful and kind lady’s home like I was just invited into the governor's mansion, I took a seat on the bench that she provided and we chat for a while. She did not have any information to help my investigations but I kept her company just for a while.

After a while, the woman said to me Palmer, I just made some chicken boiling, I was just going to eat some, would you like some. Trying to be polite and not to spoil my visit with the lady, and the fact that I had eaten only a little while ago. I said naaa, I don't want to rob you. She said: “no Palmer, I have more than enough.” I sense that it was important to the lady to be kind to me. I now walk over to the area in the house where my new old friend cooked, I looked into her pot, as if I lived in the humble dwelling, I said ok let me have two bananas, a chicken wing and some gravy. The beautiful old soul, share her dinner with me giving me just what I asked for. After which, we sat in her humble home and we chat and eat together. As a police officer; I was popular in Greggs community, and was known as a no nonsense police officer. I sense that it meant a lot for this Lady to have me in her home and entertained me. I was only too happy to obliged her.

I became emotional when I was writing this because, this old lady in her poverty felt confident enough, to invited into her humble home and offer me a meal, knowing that I would not look down on or scorn her humble dwelling. Of all the courageous and adventurous things I have done as a police officer this is the moment in my fourteen years policing experiences I am most proud of.

True Story – Allan rejected from becoming a police. WHY!

I have never been one to worry about the things, I did not have control over. I had waited about 3-4 years for the fulfillment of an opportunity to become a teacher. This promise was made to me after I Surprised the Minister of Education, Mr. Hon. John Horne, when he learn of my qualification that was beyond the minimum qualification that was required to become a teacher.

That offered was withdrawn, publicly; by Mr. Horne whilst addressing the graduates of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Boys Grammar School, at their graduation ceremony, when Mr. Horne publicly announced a changed the minimum qualifications for entering the teaching profession. The change was just enough to disqualify me from becoming a teacher.

While I waited on the opportunity to become a teacher, I kept my job and I went to work daily at Beulah's yacht, where I was a part of a team that building Simi Luxury yachts; that was use for Caribbean tours.

After I realized the person who determined, who are haired and fired in the teaching profession, were working against me, I quickly conclude, there was no hope of me ever becoming a teacher, even If I went back to school and achieve above the minimum required qualifications for becoming a teacher; as I did before, what was there to prevent the minister in charge of the ministry of Education: John Horne, from raising the minimum qualifications to exclude me as he had done before.

Although I was disappointed, the matter was out of my control, and was not worth worrying over; as a result, I shock my head and I moved on. I wrote that experience down as a lesson learnt. Not being one to cry over spilt milk; I went and I applied to be an enlisted police officer. I submitted my application in 1994. After I completed the initial application process. When the recruiter saw, I have four O levels passes including English Language, he was impressed. As a result, he said to me, “so far; you are the most qualify applicant we have,” then he said: “you are going to be at the top of the list of people to be called". Sgt. Anthony Humphrey instructions was clear, "You have to listen to the public Service announcement on the radio, for your name and instructions.” at that time there were only one radio station on the island. National Broadcasting Corporations (NBC) - 705 Radio

I listened, I heard the names of many people were called, and were requested to report to the Old Montrose Police Station; however, I did not hear my name. The following day another list of names was called and they were instructed to report to the Old Montrose Police Station. Once again my name was not called.

I sense something was absolutely wrong, how is it, the first projected pick was left out. As a result, on that same day, I went to the Old Montrose Police Station, and to the office of Police Recruitment and Training, I met and I spoke to Sgt. Jonathon Nichols, I told him, why I was at the office. The Sergeant went to a filing cabinet and began to search through the files. He then said, these are all of the people who applied, there is no applications with your name on it. I think you should reapply, and bring proof of your qualifications.

I was upset, at the whole series of events. I went home, and immediately called Mr. John Horne, my constituency representative, and the minister of Education. I was not sure if Mr. Horne had anything to do with my technical rejection from enlisting as a police officer but I was not going to take any chances. Look at the deceitful and sneaky way in which he went about depriving me of a teaching opportunity. In my mind that means, the politician can and will do anything to deprived me of getting a job in the Government Service as retaliation for not becoming a member of his political constituency group.

When I heard Mr. Horne voice on the phone, I began the conversation by saying; Mr. Horne, you promised me a teaching job, you had me waiting forever, you never give me that job I was qualified for; and you change the minimum qualification to ensure, I did not get the teacher job; Now I applied to become a police officer, you all are depriving me of that opportunity to!

Mr. Horne, said in his official tone of voice, Allan what happened? I then explained to Mr. Horne what happened, he said in his big-shot official tone of voice, Allan, give me a minute let me get to the bottom of this. I will call you back.

I hanged up the phone, I patiently sat there by the phone and I waited for Mr. Horne to return the call. About 15 or 20 minutes later, the phone rang, I answered and Mr. Horne was on the other end. He said Allan, I got to the bottom of this, here is what I want you to do. Take copies of your qualification back to training office at Old Montrose Police Station, after which, go to police Headquarters on Bay Street in Kingstown, go to Mr. William Harry office, he is expecting you.

I went to the training office in compliance with the instructions, to drop off a copy of my qualifications. On my arrival to the Police training office, I met the two men I dealt with on both of my visit to the S.V.G Police Training School. Jonathan Nicholas, the officer who looked for my application without success was sitting at the desk, closest to the door, Anthony Humphrey was sitting at a desk immediately behind him. this seating position showed seniority between the two sergeants.

When Sgt. Nicholas saw me, He asked me what do you want, I said, I was told to bring proof of my qualification to this officer, and I am here to do that. The Sgt. got mad, and began to argue with me, I looked at him in the eyes, with a big victorious smile on my face and I said to him; listen, I did not come to argue with you, I am doing what I was told to do. Nichols continue to argue, his anger was targeted at me, but he was not arguing with me because I ignored him and his anger with a big victorious smile on my face. When Anthony Humphrey saw the debacle, that was slowly developing between Mr. Nichols and I, he came forward and he took the documentation from me and he said, don’t worry with him; he probably has problems; it is a stressful job.

I handed the documentation to Sgt. Humphrey and I left the office. By this time Nichols was cooling down. I did not know if Sergeant Nichols behavior was a test to see how I was going to handle high pressure situation. I did not feel no type of pressure from Nichols' behavior; for in order for a person too feel pressure in such case there must be a level of fear.

When I got to Mr. William Harry office, there were four other people, in the waiting room of Deputy Commissioner of Police office waiting to see Mr. Harry also. I though my wait was going to be long, however; unknowing to me, the four of us were there for the same thing. At this time, I was still unsure why I was at Mr. Harry's office; for all I was told was to report to the Deputy Commissioner of Police Mr. William Harry's office.

After waiting for a while, I was prepared to see the Deputy Commissioner in the order I arrived at his office. Then the phone rang, and the corporal who manned the office, said you guys can go in now. Still unsure who he was speaking to, he said you to Mr. Palmer. I entered the room with the other waiting young men. Mr. Harry did not waist anytime, he introduce himself, after which he ascertained our identity by asking out name. We were all given bibles, and Mr. William Harry, lead the swearing in of myself and four others.

As simple as that we were sworn in as Police officers, immediately, I had the powers of arrest, powers I was not qualified to use. After which we were given directions as to what we must do next. I has officially became a sworn police officer at approximately 1:30 PM on the 8th day of August 1994.

True Story: Allan P (Palmer) and the Jewels - took on the SDA Church

It was the 5th of August of 1985, I was stabbed on Villa Beach, and the word had spread that Allan Palmer is dead! Fortunately, I was not dead, but I was a penitent at the male surgical ward after having major surgery to repair the damage that the twelve-inch-long blade had done to my stomach. One night while I was up unable to sleep; as a result, of the severity of the pain I was feeling; I saw my police friend and roller skate buddy Sean from Block 2000 on the ward dressed in police uniform. Sean was on prisoner’s guard duty at the male surgical ward at the Kingston General Hospital, which is today known as the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.

On seeing Sean, I wanted to get his attention, but it was too painful and to speak even with my normal voice. To shout would result in tremendous pain and therefore it was unthinkable. In this state, I had to whisper to communicate orally with hospital staff, family, friends and acquaintance that visited me. Sean was one of those people who had also heard that I had died. Sean was at the Nurses’ Station chatting with the staff nurse at the desk; he was trying to pass the time. He looked down at the row of beds of people from the nurses’ station. Sean saw me lying on the bed next to the window that overlooked the cemetery. I could have sworn; my friend the police officer had seen a Ghost. He immediately ended the conversation, he was involved in, with the on duty nurse and went back to his post to supervise his prisoner.

About 20 minutes later, Sean reemerged to the nurse’s desk, this time, not to have a conversation; but to ensure his eyes were not playing tricks on him. In other words, to make sure, he was not hallucinating. Sean looked in the direction where I was lying in bed, to see if the pigment of his imagination had left. At lease now he can say he saw the Ghost of Allan Palmer, in the hospital, which would have marked the beginning of a new legend: “the Ghost of Allan Palmer that haunts the Hospital he can be seen on the Male Surgical Ward”. The only problem with that legend was: I was not dead

Sean looked, in my directions and he could not believe his eyes; the dead man was still there. The man who was declared dead or his ghost is haunting the hospital. Sean had to verify that he was not seeing things. It was then he checked, with the nurse who confirmed my presences. After he confirmed that he was not seeing things; Sean quickly made his way to where I was still awake, observed the whorled scenario played out. It is then he says Palmer; I thought I saw a Ghost; for everyone say you are dead.

After I had recuperated from my injuries and the surgical repair of the injuries, I returned to church, and my writing had taken on a new dimension. I was now writing poem. I wrote the whole Bible story of Daniel in the form of a rhyme. I knew this was the hands of Yah, because I had never done this before, and the ease with which, I did the story; it could not have been anyone or anything but the words of the creator that was placed in my head.

Now, I had to figure out, why Yah gave this new gift to me. The art of Rap music has recently transition to mainstream, and was taking over the world. I realized the rap rhythm matched perfectly, with my rhymes. Now, where was a young man, in the small Caribbean island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, going to find an audience for Rap music, not just any type of Rap music; but Gospel Rap?

By this time, I had formed a Gospel Rap group; Allan P and the Jewels; which was made up of the following people. There was Nelcia “Ali” Primus: a family friend and a third form student of the Girls High School. There was Comsie Joyette: a Student Nurse; and a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church that hail from the Southern Grenadines Island of Union. And there were Desiree Murphy: a fifth form Student of the Girls High school, and also a member of the Kingstown Seventh Day Adventist church. Although Desiree was accepted in the big shot click, in the church; she did not fit into that group; even though Desiree was a very intelligent young woman, she was also a rootsy young lady and refused to fit into the mold she was asked to fit into.

It was not long that the Gospel Rap Group: Allan P and the Jewels found its way onto and was headlining the Caribbean Biggest Gospel shows: Gospel Spectacular; which was hosted by The Emerald Gospel Band. The lead vocalist of the Emerald Gospel band was Gideon Soleyn, Gideon, Desiree, Comsie and I attend the same church, The Kingstown Seventh Day Adventist Church. However our performance in the big concert had nothing to do with Gideon. Unfortunately, Gideon was under a lot of pressure from the SDA Church leadership for being associated with this gospel music group, especially one that was made up of Sunday churches. However, Gideon held his ground.

In the view of the church leadership, while Gideon’s association with Emerald Gospel Band was an associated with the world; on the other hand Desiree, Comsie and I, was accused of bringing the world into the church. I learnt this at the meeting with the eldership of the church held with me. At lease Gideon, got a little slack, for now Gideon Soleyn and his so-called unholy alliance was no longer the negative central focus of the Church leadership. The Church leaders knew I was the leader and central person of the group therefore they targeted me for the meeting; I stood up to the church leadership and I let them know I will not comply with their wishes. When reasoning with me did not work, they went to work on Desiree and Comsie; at lease, they were much younger than I was and more pliable to the pressures and would have broken easily under the pressure; and abandon me; at lease so they though.

We had performed as a guest artist at many Gospel concerts, in clouding Gospel Spectacular for three years. We had cemented our-self as one of the leading Gospel acts on the Island. Now we had to, take it to the next level. Now we had to hold our own concert. I could not depend on the others members of the group to play an active role in the planning and financing this ambitious venture, after all they were only student, and had to focus on their schooling. I went ahead and put everything in place; however, I make them feel like a big part of the entire process. The concert was organized and the venue of the concert was to be at the Peace Memorial Hall. Yvonne Soleyn helped with all of the planning, the writing of invite letter to the performers, she did the program and she also did the tickets.

Organizing a concert seems to send the leadership of the Kingstown S.D.A church totally insane. I had the guarantee best participation of my cast including some members of the Seventh Day Adventist Community. I anticipated retaliation from the Kingstown SDA church, so my crew and I visited several SDA church we did a modify presentations at the church to promote the concert. Some of the members of the smaller churches purchased tickers. Small churches like the Clay Valley S.D.A church, with the help of Tilon Cupid and Pearlene Weeks, threw their whole support behind the program and purchased ticket. The S.D.A church that surprised me the most was the Richland Park SDA church. A rural but large mainstream SDA church, allowed us in to their church to showcased what the production was all about and quite a number of them purchased tickets.

On the evening of the show, after the end of the Saturday evening youth program, Glenroy Providence, Jeremiah "Jerry" Cuffy, Rosemary "Rosie" Smart now Richardson, made our way to the Peace Memorial Hall, to get things ready. The other members of the group were at home getting ready to for their performance. Even though, we were short hand, we manage to get the place ready before Show Time. It was my first concert and there were many things I over looked. I began to see; how greatly short staff I was.

Immediately after the evening program at church, the leadership of the Kingstown Seventh Day Church called a meeting with the young people of the church, and told them not to support the concert, they told the youths all of the reason why, they should not support my program. They use the bible; the quoted text and they lay down the law.

My small crew was over work, everyone had their assignment, and yet there were many official roles to play to make matters worse, the master of ceremony was a no show. The Clay Valley folks were the first to show up, then the Richland Park, the hall was not full but it had already passed the shameful turnout mark. I was very happy about that, I can now boast attendance was good and people were still coming. Some of the people who made up the audience were spies from the Kingstown S.D.A church, who came in order to report to the elder-ship of the church.

Now I had an expecting crowd, but seriously short staff, I was fresh out of a Master of Ceremony, stage managers etc. there was only one solution, I must swallow my pride and privately asked some of the members of the audience to fill these roles. I was in the process of going to solicit help from selected members of the audience, when I saw a flood of familiar faces, they paid to enter the show. it was All the teenagers from the Kingstown S.D.A Church; a moment ago they were all in a meeting with the elder-ship of the Kingstown S.D.A church. however defiantly the showed up and paid their way into the show.

I had a good relationship with each of them, if they did not support the event I would have understood; for the pressure that was placed on them was immense. As a result, they were upset with the way, the group was treated and wanted to show their support and send a message back to the church leadership. Once in the show, they came to me, Palmer, they said in eager defiance; what can we do to help. They were willing to do anything, help at the door, sell in the bar at the intermission, usher people to their seats; anything! They wanted to be a part of this show in any way possible.

I have never been so relieved in my life, these were all secondary school students, super intelligent and talented young people; I was about to give them the biggest responsibility of their life so far. I had no doubt, these youth will rise to the challenge. Knowing their strength, I put them where they were comfortable.

Calling each person by his or her names, I said you and you are going to be the Masters of ceremony; I then explained what I expected of them. I saw anticipation but I reassured them that they were more than up to the job; my reassurance was all the youth needed. I continued; you and you; you are the stage managers, I also explained what was expected of them in their defined roles, you and you, find every act on the program get a short history of the act and get it to the MC just before the act take the stage. I assigned each youth to a significant production role and they all kill their role. The show went off without one hitch.

I was backstage and I give each performer a tap on the back, I thank them for coming and let them know, I knew what you could do; now it is time to show the audience what you can really do. Every performer killed it. In most case, they rendered their best performance on that night. The auditorium was full; anywhere two shoes could hold there were people standing there. The concert was not a financial success, but it was a success for our group. Through it all we had many victories, overcame many odds, I create an avenue for young people to display their musical talent, and put a group of willing teenagers in serious roles they were insecure about going in; but accepted the challenge, rose to the occasion and killed it. What more can anyone asked for?

Douglas Defreitas, a good and understanding man provided the sound for this concert. as usual he provided outstanding work. Unfortunately Dougie was paid some 12 + years after he had work on the concert. This was done on my first return trip to St. Vincent and the Grenadines from Bermuda in November of 2004.

True Story: They Say Allan Palmer Beat up the Police Officer Part 2 - Quashie's revenge.

After the incident at the Net Ball Center which left Officer Quashie a little banged up and his ego well brushed. I knew the officer will be looking out for me. However, I had two things working in my favor; the primary of which were: the officer's supervisors were convinced that he did not know who he was involved in the incident with.

At this point in my life, I was still a second form student at the Intermediate High School (IHS) also known as Timmy School. Attending the Intermediate High School was convenient for me. Each day after school finishes for the day at 1:00 PM I went to help my best friend ply his trade, there I helped a friend #10 and in turn put a few dollars in my pocket.

Each time the Special Service Unit (SSU) transport pass the St. Vincent Automotive Corporation Gas Station on Benthic Square and PC Quashie was in that vehicle his eyes burned a hole through me. He could not wait to get his hands on me. My friends who remember him and what happened, always took the opportunity to bring the hasty officer's behavior to my attention. I was too busy helping my best friend Winston "#10" Frankly to noticed. It was going to be a difficult task for Quashie to get to me, for the simple fact I was very discipline and I was a law abiding person.

However, fast-forward a few months; the Ads were everywhere, they on TV, on the radio and the bills were posted around Kingstown, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) was coming to St. Vincent to put on a show. On the card for the night's show was King Kong Bundy, Big John Stud, Abdullah the Butcher, Mr. Fuji and it was rumored that Andre the Giant may make an appearance. I wanted to go and see the show. After all our favorite T.V programming was wrestling.

On the evening before the show, without even asking my father Hamilton Palmer; gave my sister Andrea and I money to attend the show. Andrea used the money for the purpose it was giving. However none of my friends had money for the admission and they were going to slip into the show. I did not want to miss the excitement of evading the security, with my efforts to get into and enjoying the show without paying. So I decided to join my friends. It was all about the excitement.

At this stage in the history of the Victoria Park, the facility was enclosed with Galvanize sheets. The Galvanize sheets were nailed onto wooden frames, which were attached to 4x4 wooden stakes, which were anchored in the ground with a concrete base.

On our arrival to the event, to our surprised, the members of the SVG Police Force were responsible for security; they were armed with long wooden baton. The South Eastern side of the park was scarcely lit and therefore was the best point to enter the park without paying. However, the security was tight, the police were ensuring that no one enter the facility without paying and those who so tried were thrown out of the park. For kids it was understandable and not a bad punishment for one’s effort.

There were three police staffing the South Western side of the facility, I recognized Corporal Lenford Brewster, He was in Uniform however. at this point of Brewster's policing career, his normal dress code was regular or civilian clothes. This was so because he was attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Kingstown. I was familiar with Brewster’s work and his habits. I had seen the injuries about the body of Gomma a noted criminal who specialized in stealing, As well as on my good friend and mentor Thin Legs and my mentor Crab. All the injuries were sustained through the violent beating at the hands of Brewster, Spencer and the other members of the CID in order to extract confession from these men for crimes that may or may not have committed. They wanted resolution to their cases at any cost.

I had also seen Lenford Brewster smoking weed under the Jacks Mango Tree and in back of Banks pool room and bar at Rose Place (Bottom Town). Therefore, when I became a police, It was no surprise to me, when I discovered that the police authority had caught the rough police officer; smoking Marijuana in the back in the Spring Village Police Station. As a result, of this encounter on the police premises, Brewster was black listed by the police authority.

I did not know who the other police were; they were further away from me in the dark. I saw the three police had a huddle. I did not know what was discussed in the little meeting, however with Cpl. Brewster and the officers abundant their post, we saw this as the opportunity we were looking for. Someone declare they are must be on their break that is why they leave.

As a result, my friends, the other people who were also trying to get into the Victoria Park for free and I; all stormed into the park, Some jumping over the galvanize fence, some squeezing themselves through the little gap between the galvanized sheets, whichever way the objective was to get into the park, then as soon as possible, mix in with the crowd at the function.

then without warning, and like a group of hyena the police came out from absolutely nowhere, we all dispersed, I noticed there was a particular police officer, that singled me out, and no matter what I did he will not relent. He refused to chase even the people who were closer to him than I was. I ran to the northwestern part of the park to where the old Red Cross Building was located. with the intention of climbing up the wall with the aid of the tree that was close to the building, which I had done numerous tomes before, The officer was not very close to me, but he was close enough to catch me before I can make it up the wall of the Red Cross building and out of the park.

I decided to stop running because I would eventually be caught. I stop running surrendering to the pursuing police officer; then I turn and face him expecting to be roughed up and shown the way out of the park which was the protocol for the night. Then I felt a blow to my upper left arm, the side of by bicep. I was extremely surprised, by the actions of the officer, because the action of the police was not the protocol the police were following that night. Before I reconcile what was happening, I saw the officer raise his baton, and he took a downward swung of the baton; aiming at my head. Immediately, I said to myself, this man is trying to kill me. I was too stupid to be afraid of the baton wielding police officer; I said to myself: “what!, I am going to give him a taste of his own medicine.”

The baton was on its way to an unpleasant meeting with my skull, I had to act quickly. I stop the baton from hitting my head by using an upward forearm block with my left hand, just as my big brother Val "Nazi" Palmer had shown me. Immediately, and in one flowing motion, I moved my hand and the baton to my left, doubling my left hand around the baton. I secured the baton under my arm pit and I further secured it with the back of my left forearm. with the back of my forearm lock the baton in place; I took all control of the baton away from the officer, and with the continuous flowing motion, I snatched the shirt of the officer in the area of the Shoulder/collar area with both hands. Now I have taken control of the officer with both of my hands.

Brewster was off in the dark watching the whole incident played out after all he had set the whole incident up. Now I recognized the aggressive officer, I certainly didn't care about the fact there were another officers around; I was going to give Quashie the beating of his life, but first I wanted him helpless on the ground. Having total control of the officer and his baton I began to toss the officer in a swirling motion from left to right, to cause him to lose his balance and get him helpless on the ground.

It was the first time I actually smell the fear, and the odor of Quashie’s fear got me more and more enraged. I wanted him on the ground, where he was helpless I wanted to hurt him, he must understand what it felt like to be hit with a baton in the same way I experienced it at his hands. I had the frightened officer totally off balance, stumbling over his own feet, one more twirl and he will be eating grass. When I was about to floor the scared officer, I felt someone held on to me it was Brewster, now he decided to intervened, pretending he did not know what happened. My arms and forearms were swollen from the blows I sustained. Two of my friends came back to look for me and saw the whole scenario. And they were angry, they wanted revenge.

In his pretense Brewster said to his junior, what are you doing to the youth man, then he said to me, youth man, go and watch the show, don't worry with him. I left with my injuries and I still manage to enjoy the show. The next day my father asked me what happened, I explained to him what happened. When he heard the story he said, you know I cannot do anything, I looked at him and I asked what do you mean you cannot do anything? It was then he asked me a few questions to get a message to me.

My father very calmly asked, "Did I give you money to pay for the show?" I answer yes. Then he followed up with a second question, "why didn't you use the money I give you for the purpose it was given?" I told him my friends did not have any money to go in. He looked at me and he said, each of your friends has parents, it is their parents’ responsibility to take care of their children needs, it is not your responsibility to take care of their needs.

He continued; do you think if your friends had the money to pay their way into the show and you didn't; they would have cared that you did not have money? I did not have to answer that question, for the answer was obvious; I knew my father was right in his utterance. He was correct for the simple fact; when it was movie time, it was all man for him-self. If you had money you watch the movie, if you did not have money you stay outside. Then my wise father continued by saying; I have a responsibility to you, there was a reason I give you the money to go to the show, it was to ensure you did not try to get into the show without paying and you went ahead and did exactly; just what I did not want you to do. Pearson you have tied my hands.

I fully understood my father’s reasoning and his argument was reasonable and just. He continued by saying “write that experience down as a bad decision on your behalf.” and that was exactly what I did. Quashie had his revenge and my father had spoken and I was satisfied. Biggest lesson learns. My friends wanted us to take revenge but my father has spoken.

However, this incident give me credibility among my friend and increased my mystique among my friends in school. I got to boast about my fight with a police officer and I had the tags to prove the fight actually happened.

OK People I give you part two early because I have a beautiful Christmas Story to share with you on the weekend. A story of trial triumph and the best Christmas ever.
Part 1
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True Story: The Fight - Allan Palmer Vs. the Police

Anyone who knows my family, they will know that my big brother Albert Palmer AKA the skipper called me The Dread. When I asked him why he always say; Allan you are a dread man. I believe this was one of the reason why.

I was a form two student at the intermediate High School. I managed to convince my neighborhood friends to accompany me to Net Ball, under the condition that after half time we will go to Victoria Park to watch the second half of the Soccer match that was being played at Victoria Park. We were all into soccer however; I had became fascinated by the athleticism, superior skills set, the flying ability, and the way these two Netballers were able to contort their bodies even while jumping. I was totally sold by the skills that Joanna Ballantine and Stella Boyea displayed on the net ball court; and not to take away the fact that were two extremely beautiful young ladies Joanna a teenager and Stella slightly older.

My friends reluctantly accompanied me to Old Montrose Netball Center (OMNC). It was clear, they were not interested in Netball or being at the OMNC. We all got into watch the Netball game; I went to a place where I could get a good view of the entire court, to look at one of my favorite sport personalities in actions. While Anthony Culzac and my others friends sat at the gate patiently waited for the referee’s whistle to be sound; to signal the half time period.

I was just getting into the game when one of my friends came to summon me to the gate. He said there is a police officer at the gate and he locked up (arrested) Antho for cursing a dirty word. I had to go to see what was going on, and they all were hoping that I could ensure that Anthony was not arrested. The police officer: Quashie was from the country side (rural area), he was using an old police stereotype. He saw a group of town men (youth) sitting on the steps that led up to the court in a conversation; the young police officer began to stalk the youths, hoping that one of them will cuss a dirty word, so that he could make an arrest and probable gain brownie points with his friends.

Today such behavior is called "profiling" and it deemed illegal. However, that was the type of policing a person who was from Kingstown had to deal with. It was a we against them attitude. There were a handful of police officers, from the Kingstown area and therefore was not enough to influence the attitude of the force. I pick up some of these stereotypes while I was in training to become a police officer. I knew the instructors, after they understood I was a town-man, with a voice (regular published articles in the Newspaper and radio talk show) did their best to modify their language; but it was still evident.

However, I went to see what has happened, on my arrival I noticed the police was holding Anthony by his wrist, Anthony looked confused and very upset. I went over to the officer who was dressed in regular clothes, and I asked him what happened; he said to me, he said fuck and I am arresting him. I asked the man who failed to identified himself as a police officer; "did he cuss you? he answer no. I then asked, who did he cuss, he said no one, I was confused with the whole scenario. Then the officer said: “I was standing here and I hear him say fuck and I lock him up.” I said to the officer, “you cannot arrest someone for saying a dirty word; his use of the word did not offend or hurt anyone. He used it in conversation, he used the word in a conversation with his friend and he did not use it in anger to no one.

The police officer looked at me and said, I don’t care, he “lock up”. I looked at him and I said you not locking up anyone, I then took the back of both forearm, elbow to elbow and wrist to wrist, using both hands together, lay my arm in the area where the police hand connected with my friend’s hand and I broke the officer’s hold on Anthony’s hand. I then told Anthony to go home. I was a year or two older than Antho but he looked up to me at that period of our life; and I felt an obligations to protect him.

I did not anticipate what happened next. As soon as I took away Anthony from the grasp of the police officer, my other friends took my action as the signal to teach the officer a lesson, for messing with us and they all jumped the police officer and lay hands on him. I eventually got the situation under control but the young police officer was well banged up. More than the pain of the blows that was laid upon him; his ego experienced more damaged than his body.

The young officer left the netball center, everyone else including Anthony and the other guys went back to their conversation and I went back to watching the game. Sometime later, I heard the call Allan look S.S.U (Special Service Unite), I was not afraid, however, in my mind, this was the second part of the adventure. We were all fit, involved in aquabatics, and we knew all the ins and out of the Kingstown area. As a result, we all took off, using every short cut, to get out of the netball facility, and we retreated to the nearby cemetery; from where we looked on at the events. at the time, I surely did not understand the seriousness of my actions.

However, on his return, the officer who was eager to show his authority, began to point out people at random, and as he point them out, the uniformed S.S.U officers that came with him, began to arrest the people who he pointed out even some of the netballers that did not have anything to do with the incident were arrested. None of the people that was arrested had anything to do with the incident. This made the officer looked silly; they were all release because they were falsely arrested. The young officer’s supervisors could not rely on his ability to identify the person who had beaten him up. His hast was an embarrassment to the police officers who responded to the scene, and to his supervisors but more so to the show off Police officer.

I was a student at the Intermediate High School (IHS) also known as Timmy School. Attending the Intermediate High School was convenient for me. Each day after school finished, for the day at 1:00 PM; I went to the St. Vincent Auto Motive Corporative Gas Station on Bentic Square to help my best friend:Winston "#10" Franklyn ply his trade, there I helped a friend and in turn put a few dollars in my pocket.

One day, after school, I was at the Gas Station on Benthic Square helping my friend “#10” repair vehicle tiers; the SSU transport were taking people on duty, the young officer was in the vehicle and he saw me, as a result, the driver made a quick turn into the gas station, to see how I will react. If I run, then they will come in pursuit of me. I saw the vehicle turn onto the compound of the Gas Station and pulled up to the air pump; they all had their eyes on me. I walked over to the vehicle and I asked the driver would you like to have air in your tiers. He answered yes; I asked him how much pounds will you like to have in the tiers he said 35 pounds, I proceeded to inflate the four tiers to the require poundage after which they left.

The young officer was sure that I was the man who obstructed him in the line of duty, but he just could not prove it. In addition, his supervisors did not want to make the same mistake they did a few weeks earlier; Making another false arrest on the counsel of a confused officer.

Each time the Special Service Unit transport pass the St. Vincent Automotive Corporative Gas Station on Benthic Square and PC Quashie was in that vehicle, his eyes burned a hole through me with his eyes. For this reason Antho stop coming by to help #10. He could not wait to get his hands on me. My friends who remember him and what happened will bring his behavior to my attention. I was too busy helping my best friend Winston "#10" Frankly to noticed. It was going to be a difficult task for Quashie to get to me, for the simple fact, I was very discipline and ordinarily I was a law abiding person.

However, fast-forward a year; At this point in my life, I was a 3rd Form student at the Intermediate High School (IHS). To Be continue...........

PS This is how I remember this story, some people remembered me playing a bigger role. As usual I am to be blamed.

Next week Part 2

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True Story - Who is the Baby's daddy

The Seventh Day Adventist (S.D.A) community in St. Vincent and the Grenadines held an Island wide convention at Victoria Park in Kingstown, on the small Caribbean multi-island state of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Victoria Park is the country's main soccer stadium on the main Island. this stadium mainly host the clubs first and second division soccer league.

When I got to the park, I met up with, some of my friends from the Kingstown S.D.A church. Present was Glenroy Providence, a beloved and trusted friend, a man who goes the extra mile for his friends. Glenroy is a skilled Plumber and Electrician, there was Jerry Cuffy, my little brother, who had just completed his secondary education and found employment with Glenroy, while he make up his mind on what he wanted to do, their was my good friend: Leroy Richardson AKA Tom. Tom is also a beloved and trusted friend. Tom and I often sit for hours in discussion, addressing many subject, Tom and I are like minds; and there was Tom's wife Rosie, my then partner in crime. This group was a part of the big happy family that were present when I arrived at the convention; a part of the family I had at the S.D.A church in Kingstown.

While I was greeting my friends who had assembled in the vicinity of the main gate at the sporting facility, I noticed, Rosie was holding a young baby. Rosie's maternal instinct was sharp as a result she could always be seen, with other people's babies. While I greeted my other friends, I turn to Rosie and I said in the Vincentian dialect: "Rosie, way yo na go mek yo own, every time I turn, yo wit some body Chile" (Rosie you should make another child, each time I see you, you are caring for someone else's child) we all laugh and that round of laughter marked the official breaking of the ice among friends. That seamlessly joke, was an indication that it was going to be a day of clean fun, lots of laughter that will climax with a cook at someone's home.

After the good laugh has die down, Rosie said, to me, this is not a stranger baby, this is my sister Jemma's baby. I said surprisingly: I did not know Jemma was pregnant. I was shocked at this news, for Jemma and I had started a relationship some months earlier; unfortunately, for the continuation for the relationship, she suddenly disappeared into thin air. At that time cell phone was not popular. I called Jemma's home many times; however, she was never at home to take the call, at lease that was what I was told. I visited her home to speak to her and each time I went by Jemma's home, her siblings who I were friends with, often told me, she was not at home.

I knew something was amiss, it was impossible for Jemma to disappeared on so small an island without her disappearance making the news, as a missing person or even making the public service announcement. I concluded that Jemma did not want to continue in the relationship with me, and less, I be considered a stalker; I stopped calling and I stop going by to see her. The young lady went through a lot of work to avoid running into me on the streets and she was successful at it.

I am not one who has a big interest in other people's babies, because I did not have the parental eyes as yet and therefore; I failed to see the beauty in babies that most people saw. As a result, I was often forced to lie to make the parent feel good; and I don't like lying. At that time of my life, my parental eyes were dull. I was still shock by the news, I asked Rosie when was that child born, she told me the date, and I did the quick math in my head. Rosie looking into my eyes saw the wheels of my mind turning over in my head; Then I said to Rosie in a commanding tone of voice, "let me see the child!" immediately Rosie became defensive, turn the child away from me and said, why do you want to see the girl's child.

I insisted and we had a little friendly struggle, Rosie preventing me from seeing the baby and I insisting on seeing the baby. It was then Tom, Rosie's husband intervened; he say "Rosie, you let all body, even strangers see, hold and play with the child, why you don't want Palmer to see the child? Let the man see the child!" Tom instructed, Rose reply to her husband, "Tom you know what Palmer gives already" she was speaking about my habit of heckling people, making jokes out of serious things. Rosie knew it was not the place, the time or the subject to get me joking about the baby and its birth. The baby's mother did not tell her family who the baby's father was. So for Rosie this was a sensitive matter.

Upon her husband's council, Rosie handed over the baby to me, when I took that baby into my arms, I immediately felt a deep connection to the baby that lay in my arms. I looked at the child with searching eyes, and I saw myself in the baby that looked back at me, with searching eyes also. As if to be saying who is this strange man, whom I am seeing for the first time, who make me feel so safe and secure.

This baby was beautiful child; at that stage, of my life, I could quickly see the beauty in babies born to my siblings, and it matters not what others opinion about their children were. On that day, I held in my hand and I looked upon the face of so beautiful a little baby. The timeline of the birth of this child matched perfectly the timeline of that period of time, I was involved in a relationship, with the baby's mother. All I knew was, this was no coincidence.

I forgot where I was, as a matter of fact, I did not care I was in a church setting, and the service was going on; Immediately and unashamed I declared: "Rosie this is my child!" I attracted the attention and to the embarrassment of some of the church people around. My admission to being the unmarred father of a new born baby, was a public admission of fornication; an offense worthy of being thrown out of the church (Dis-fellowship). This outrageous declaration put Rosie on the defensive. As a result Rosemarie, fire back by saying, If is baby you want, why don'y you go, find a woman, and make a baby.

The others including Rosie laughed off the awkward encounter as one of my ruses, however, I was not joking around. Rose was totally unaware of the relationship I had with her younger sister and she thought I was joking also. However, claiming to be the baby's daddy was something Rosie could play along with. But Rosie's husband Tom, who also laughed the whole incident off, realized I was not Joking; approached me about the matter later.

All of my renewed efforts to see and speak to Jemma was unsuccessful. Now it was not about my disappointment and or my feelings, and it was not about Jemma's feelings either; now, their was an innocent child that was the central part of the picture and we must put our petty feelings aside and make as our priority, the welfare of this new born child; thus forget about our personal feelings and opinion.

One day I was at Daddy Thomas' shop, which was located on Hospital Road. The Hospital Road; marked the beginning or the started of the Road to Leeward. Daddy's shop was on opposite side of the hospital, the narrow street immediately in front of the main entrance of the Kingstown General Hospital, which was later renamed the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital; separated the ever popular shop from the health facility. While there, I glimpsed someone, out of my peripheral vision; I noticed the person made a sharp about turn and began to briskly walk back into the Accident and Emergency section if the Hospital. I quickly turned to see who the person was. It was then I saw Jemma trying desperately to avoid me, by running in the direction from which she was coming.

I wanted her to know that I saw her, and she is not going to avoid me this easily. So I shouted her name using the power of my projected voice; there were a lot of questions I need answer for. The primary of which was, who was the father of the child she recently give birth too. I wanted the evasive young lady to know that this time around, she was not getting away without answering a few questions, and I wanted the answers now! not tomorrow, not next week but now! I immediately made my way onto the hospital premises, and over to where Jemma was. On inquiry, I was told; Jemma was sick and she came to the A&E for medical help.

I then said to her, I did not know you recently had a child; she said yes, I have a little girl. By this time the baby was about three or four months old. without wasting any time, I got straight to the point and I asked her who is the father of the little girl. She looked at me confused and embarrassed, not expecting the question to be the focal point of our meeting after just over a year of not seeing each other. Jemma said "Palmer you are the father of my daughter." I was not shocked and I was not surprised at her answer. I smile at her to put her at ease. I can see the stress she was under. So why did you avoided me all this time and why you did not let me know you were pregnant? I asked, I wanted answers.

Jemma looker at me and she said, "how would it have looked, after that short time in relationship with you, I just declared to you that I am pregnant and you are the baby's father". she pause for a brief moment, to give me some time to think, upset at the situation she had been trapped in she continued; "I knew the first thing you were going to say was; the child was not your, I was pregnant before we started talking and I had sex with you because I wanted to give you a 6 for a 9 (I wanted you to father another man's child)." she pause and looked for some type of reaction from me; like you were wrong, I would not have said that. But the truth that fell from her lips made me num. Then she broke the silence once again, and said: "I could not have deal with that type of stress. So I took it upon myself to avoid the stress, by ending the relationship and deal with the pregnancy and the baby on my own; and that was what I did."

After listening carefully to what Jemma said, I wanted to say you were wrong Jemma, to smooth it over. But the only thing that would have done was to make me look like the good guy and give the stressed out mother, the impression that she made the wrong decision.

This was a serious issue and I could not find it within me to lie to the mother of my child. However, after honestly searched my heart; I honestly could not have taken the easy way out, not even to make myself look good. I looked at Jemma and I said to her Jemma, you are correct, under the circumstances I would have believed that was the case.

Then Jemma said Palmer if you have doubts you can do a paternity test to verify. I said Jemma, I do not need a paternity test to know the baby is my child. As soon as, I held her in my arms, I knew she is my daughter. Right there and then Jemma and I worked out how we were going to proceed from there and what was my responsibilities to my daughter. I was happy to be a part of the child's life and I wanted to play a significant role in her life. On hindsight, I did not live up to my potential as a father. I truly fell short.

Even if I have not been the best father that Jemisha deserved, she has always been wonderful daughter. We were connected, so much so that whatever or whenever, or if I tell Jemisha she can jump and touch the moon, she always does. It may not happen in her first try, but bet your last dollar, that she will never stop trying until she touched the moon. Any time her mother and or Jemisha's Grand mother had a concern with her, one conversations from me was all that was needed to have her reformed her ways. I will forever love Jemisha. Her strength, determination, and fighting spirit always reminds me of me

True Story: Who Delivered the baby!

I had only been a police officer for less than five years yet it seems like more than twenty years. I thought that my experiences were the norms. However, I have listened to my colleagues stories, but they were nothing compare to what I have experienced and had encountered.

May be it’s a matter of timing, I was just never their when they were telling the real adventurous stories. I never feel the need to share my stories with family, friends and or colleagues, at the time, to me these were stories, these were serious incident with real people whose life were seriously affected. However, What I knew was; there were the unseen hands of Yah, leading and protecting me at every turn in my life.

On this particular day, I was out on duty ounce again, and what has become the norm, I was going solo. I was leaving the capital Kingstown, driving on the windward side of the island. I decided to take a shorter road to my destination, however, and unfortunately, I took a wrong turn and I ended up in an area I was totally unfamiliar with.

I always prided myself for knowing the main land St. Vincent like the back of my hand. This was so because of the many exchange we were involved in as children, exchanges my sister and I were a part of whilst on Summer break, spending a week or two with a family and family in the rural areas, who had children our age, after which, that child came to our home for the same amount of time. There was also the frequent road trips with our father; which he normally organized on Sundays, to various parts of the island, to visit his friends; and there was my stint working with the Vector Controlled Unit, which took me into the nooks and cranny of the Island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

However, on this day, I was lost, not in the deep rural interior of the island, but in the suburbs of one of St. Vincent's town. I was lost in the suburbs of the town of Calliaqua. How was this even possible, there were somewhere, so close to my home that I did not know about? I came upon a fork in the road, and I had to make a decision.

The road was narrow, un-kept and un-maintained. In some areas the asphalt surface was completely destroyed. The grassy hedges were so over grown, that it extended into the road; making the narrow road even narrower. It was a beautiful sunny day; but the tall trees acted like a canopy that blocked out the sunlight from illuminating the road below. This area had the same spooky appearance, and reminded me of that area between Dorchester Hill and Queen’s Drive where Yolande Weeks was brutally murdered, this murder happened when I was still a child, and it sent shock-waves throughout the entire island. I knew Yolande very well, her brothers and I were friends as children attending the Kingstown Prep School.

While writing this piece it make me realize, that I know who killed Yolande weeks so many years ago. This is so because sometime later, a friend brought the incident to my attention and asked me if I will like to see where Yolande was killed? I was curious and I consented to go to that location. My friend began to explain to me in great details, how the incident happened. From the level and the type of resistance the frighten child put up, to her efforts to escape and the murderer efforts to recapture her and how she actually met her end. From where the car was parked, to where they got out of the car, where the killer intercepted her and where her body lay after she lay dead in the cold damp street. all the information were precise in their details.

The area where Yolande Weeks was brutally murdered was not illuminated by the sun light in the day, because of the topography and the denseness of the vegetation in that area. When I asked him how you knew all that details about that murder he said, I heard about it. I was about seventeen year’s old and very naive, at the time; as result, I took his explanation as his truth. I was impressed by the level of his knowledge about the whole incident. At one time he blamed Yolande for her death and referred to her as bad and of loving too much man. This made him sound like one who was jealously in love with beautiful young girl. For Yolande was every thing but promiscuous, she was happy-go-luckily, friendly young girl; who was kind to all regardless of their social or other status.

I can see if this guy had ever interacted with her, as he said he had, when he experienced Yolande kindness and appreciation to the customers who patronized her father's business, how someone like him can easily confused her kindness for romantic love. For my friend did not have the love of his or a mother growing up. On hind sight, it is only someone who had witness the incident or someone who actually committed the murder could have known the level of details this fellow had access to. Because of the darkness that engulfed the area in the day a witness could not seen such intricate details in the night when the incident took place.

I looked around for someone to provide me with a way out of this deserted place. There were a few wooden houses sprinkled on the hillside, these houses did not have electricity and, there were no phone either. At this period in the worlds history, in the Mid-nineties (1990s) the cell phone was only a make believe apparatus for ordinary people; they had appeared in only a few movies; and those cellular phone, were as big as the receivers of a domestic phone.

Now; I had a choice to make, I could choose to go up the steep mountain road, or to stay on the flat and continue along the path. I could not turn back, because I has changed road several times, trying to find my way out of my predicament and therefore I was unable to effectively retrace my movement back. I decided on taking the steep mountain road, I drove for a while then, I thought to myself, this road may lead to a dead end in the mountains.

As a result, I turned the marked police vehicle around and headed down the hill from whence I came. When I reach to the fork in the road I decided to take option number two. Over powered by anxiety, I drove for a little while; and I did not see any sign of civilization. As a result of the anxiety, which got the better of me, I took the decision to once again turn the vehicle around, and I decide to go up the steep mountain road once again. This time around, I made a decision to drive until I get out of this place or until I reach a dead end. At lease this way, I will eliminate one road from my choices.

It was about 10:30 am, all of the houses were locked, there was no one around, from whom I could have solicited direction. If there were children living in this area, they were all in school and their parents were all at work. So I took my time and I carefully maneuver the vehicle along the deplorable narrow road that was overrun by vegetation. When I got to the very top of the hill, I noticed the road became level and winding. I could tell that this road never had a pave surface.

This road was one of the many roads that was excavated to accommodate the settlement of the area and abandoned. I noticed, there was a load of 3/8 quarry stone on the side of the road. By the presence of the stone, I knew civilization was close, because, the trucks that bring the stones to this location could not make it safely up that narrow, winding road.

While I was driving along feeling much better by the way things were now progressing, I noticed there was a woman trying to make her way up a dirt embankment, from a house that was about thirty feet below the flat, unpaved, dirt road. It look like she may have fallen and had hurt herself.

When I reach to where the woman was dragging herself up the track that was cut out in the embankment, on her buttocks, I got out of the police vehicle and I went to find our what was the matter with her, to see if there was anything I can do and if she needed my help. This was the first person I saw since I made the wrong turn and find myself chapped in this maze.

The pain she was experiencing was visible on her face, at times she bit her bottom lip, exposing the top row of her pearly white teeth, with a somewhat contorted stiff upper lip. The woman who was still on the ground, who had a white sheet, in her hand was breathing through her mouth, she was taking quick, shallow breaths; a sign of the magnitude of pain the woman was experiencing.

I was a police officer, not a doctor, a police officer was the last person a person in this woman's condition wanted to see, but she was stuck with me. It was obvious this lady needed medical help, and I had no medical training. However when she saw me she was relief.

I asked the lady what was wrong, she said I am pregnant and I am in labor. I have seen police officers delivering babies on TV and in the movies, Hollywood make it look like; delivering babies were routine police duties. Hollywood makes this procedure look so easy and cool, that I always hope to be place in such a situation. Now I was smack dab in the middle of such a situation, with the opportunity to prove myself, and even get this thing done better than the actors did on TV and in the movies. And then; the dreaded reality hit me. Mr. Ronald Christopher the police training commandant forgot to teach the subject in baby delivery in the field! It was now, I realized that the sudden look of relief, the soon to be mother had upon seeing me, was the fact that she too had seen police officers on TV and in the movies successfully delivered babies, and she was happy to see the police midwife, who God had sent to save her from the torment and to safely deliver her baby.

I quickly obtained our location from the lady, I use the police radio and I called Police headquarters, I informed them of where I was and the current state of affairs and I asked them to send an ambulance to my location immediately. I was hoping that the ambulance arrived before the baby decided to make its entrance into this world. The liquid that soaked the dress, the lady was wearing was a sign that her water had broken, I did not know how long it took after the water had broken, for the baby to make its entrance into this world. All I knew, it is a sure sign that the baby is just about ready to make its grand entrance into the world.

I kept an eye out for the ambulance but the ambulance will not come. Then the lady said it feel like the baby is coming. Deep inside I was panicking but I could not let the woman in distress know I was panicking. I had to hold it together. Then she said; officer, take a look and see if the baby is coming.

I lifted up the lady's dress and I took a look at her vagina, I saw the top of the baby head, the wet, black, curly hair was visible. I immediately reported what I saw to the distressed mother. I encouraged her to hold on, for the ambulance will be here soon. I was trying to stop her from doing anything to aggravate the situation before the ambulance arrived.

And then like clockwork, the lady started blowing, breathing heavy through her mouth and pushing, I try to stop her from pushing by tell her to hold on the ambulance is on its way, its seems like the lady lost all rational, and bodily control, she began blowing, breathing heavily, and forcing (pushing). I was convinced that it was completely out of the woman's control. It was time for the baby to come and all she could have done, was to do all in her power to accommodate the process, which was breath heavy through her mouth, blow and push.

Then I saw the head made its way out of the birth channel, after which the shoulder, the lady was still groaning, pushing and blowing. Then there was some sudden, quick movement on the baby's part. Now the baby was making a steady move; the baby was coming out of the lady vagina in the same way toothpaste comes out of the tube when one squeeze the tooth paste out of the tube. If I did not act now and act quickly, with the speed at which the baby was coming, the baby was going to pop out of his mother vagina and fall onto the muddy ground.

It was clear this baby was not playing by my rules, and it did not care one hoot about my opinion, my fears, my concerns, this was the baby's time to be born and he did not care what I thought about it. Stooping in front of the expectant mother, I stretched my hand up to where the sheet was, yanked the clean, white sheet out of the distressed mother hand, quickly spread the sheet over both of my open hands, I place my hands in front and below the woman's vagina just then the baby slipped out, of the vagina and landed safely onto my sheet clad hand.

The mother was relief, all of the commotion suddenly ended. There was no heavy breathing, no blowing, no pushing. My worries should have been over, but now, my worries began to grow. This one was even, bigger than the problem I had with dealing with the delivery of the child. For now there is the issue of severing and tying the navel string of the baby. Was this a part of the package of delivering a child in the field, I asked myself. On TV, this always seems to be an urgent matter that need to be dealt with immediately. I still had the beautiful baby in my hand, as I contemplate what to do. I did not have the right equipment to facilitate this surgical procedure. I did not want to do anything to endanger the life of child or the child's mother. if I did all the worry and my efforts would have been a waste.

And then I saw the ambulance coming, I was relief, I then handed the baby to its mother, informed her that the ambulance was in sight, told her lets the people, on the ambulance handle it from here. I could not waite to get home to tell my big sister Clear the Nurse, what happened. I was glad to hand over the mother and the child to the ambulance personnel. thank to Yah there was a nurse on the ambulance. I assisted the ambulance operator in getting the patient on board; the lady asked my name and then we path ways.