A total of 489 Police Officers were promoted to different ranks, today, during ceremony held in presence of the Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, at the Line Barracks in Port-Louis. These include a first batch of 463 Police Corporals who have been promoted as Police Sergeants.
Several eminent personalities were present including the Acting Commissioner of Police, Mr Anil Kumar Dip. The new police uniform was also presented on this occasion.
The Prime Minister congratulated the Police Officers and their families for their well-deserved achievement. It is a momentous occasion as they are the first cohort of Police Officers to be automatically promoted after completing 20 years of service, he added. A second batch will follow shortly and the exercise will be ongoing, he pointed out.
The integrity, dedication and commitment of most Police Officers is often overshadowed by the unprofessional behavior of some, remarked the Prime Minister. He urged Police Officers to perform their duty in line with the huge expectations of the public and to become role models to their juniors. Government, he emphasised, is committed in supporting Police Officers to achieve enhanced professionalism. He cautioned that no misconduct of Police Officers will be tolerated.
Prime Minister Jugnauth further dwelt on the important role of Police Officers in braving challenges to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the population. He lauded Police Officers for their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to protecting and serving the public while expressing his satisfaction for the accomplishment of the project.
Law and order, he highlighted, has always been high on Government’s agenda and the role of the Mauritius Police Force (MPF) cannot be overstated. This, he said, is evident with the record drug seizures over the years and prompt arrests of offenders.
As regards ensuring a safer country, Prime Minister Jugnauth said that Government is investing massively on a series of projects. They comprise contractions of new police stations in Saint Pierre, Camp Diable, Pamplemousses and Poudre d’Or; and the setting up of police stations at Vallée Pitot and L’Escalier. The Abercrombie Divisional Headquarters and Piton Detention Centre will be inaugurated soon, announced the Prime Minister.
Government, he underlined, is also supporting the MPF to promote its operational and aerial capabilities with the renewal of the fleet of police vehicles and the acquisition of new police helicopters and a Dornier aircraft. The Safe City project, he emphasised, is also enabling Police Officers to detect a higher number of offences.
On the appointment of the new Acting Commissioner of Police, the Prime Minister indicated that it has given new impetus to the MPF as the organisation has embarked on the development of a new strategic re-orientation plan to revitalise the police force. As regards enhancing human resources capabilities, he pointed out that in July 2021, 447 trainee Police Constables were recruited.
In order to keep abreast of the sophistication of criminals and adhere to international policing and investigating standards such as those recommended by the Financial Action Task Force, the police force is developing skills to deal with transitional and technological driven crimes, Prime Minister Jugnauth remarked.
Speaking on the health of former Prime Minister, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, who has been tested positive to the COVID-19, the Prime Minister expressed his solidarity towards Dr Ramgoolam’s spouse and family and wished him a speedy recovery. Government, he stated, is providing the necessary support and assistance to Dr Ramgoolam for his treatment.
The Acting Commissioner of Police extended his congratulations to the Police Officers for their long overdue promotion. He indicated that by 20 September 2021 Police Officers will avail of their new uniform. A next cohort of Police officers will be promoted to Sergeants by end of this year, he assured.
