Commissioner of Police Everton Jeffers says the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda is preparing for what he described as the largest event ever to be hosted by the twin-island nation, expressing confidence that officers will be ready to provide security when the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) convenes later this year.

Addressing graduates of the 50th Recruit Training Course at the Sir Wright F. George Police Academy, Jeffers said planning for the international summit is progressing steadily as the country counts down to the event.

“As we look ahead, the road we travel is becoming shorter and shorter by the minute. Within the space of three months, Antigua and Barbuda will host the largest event ever held in this twin-island state,” he said.

Jeffers said security preparations are well advanced.

“Plans are already progressing quite smoothly as we finalise all the necessary logistic issues to ensure a seamless and successful outcome,” he said.

The commissioner described CHOGM as a major test of the police force’s capabilities but said he is confident officers will meet the challenge.

“This major event will test our ability to perform at optimum level. I stand here this morning feeling quite confident we will rise to the occasion,” Jeffers said.

He pointed to the force’s performance during previous high-profile international meetings, including the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States and the 55th Regular Session of the Organization of American States General Assembly.

“We would have done during the hosting of the Small Island Developing States conference, the OAS 55th Assembly meeting and so many other national events in the past,” Jeffers said.

Jeffers said thousands of visitors are expected to travel to Antigua and Barbuda for the summit, placing the country under international scrutiny.

“It is expected that thousands of visitors will be converging on the island, as well as the eyes of the world will be watching us,” he said.

He stressed that security will be critical to the success of the meeting.

“May I remind you that we are in an era where safety and security are of paramount importance, and how you perform depends on our preparedness,” Jeffers told the graduates.

The commissioner also highlighted recent investments aimed at strengthening the force’s operational capabilities ahead of the summit, including additional K-9 units trained to detect firearms, explosives and narcotics, improvements to the marine unit, the acquisition of an Integrated Ballistic Identification System, and specialized training in advanced radio communications, unmanned aerial systems and white-collar crime investigations.

Jeffers said the continued modernization of the police force is intended to ensure officers are equipped to provide a high standard of service while meeting the growing demands of national and international security.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Police Preparing for Largest Event in Antigua and Barbuda’s History.