Fresh off his official promotion to the rank of Police Sergeant, effective October 2, 2026, Raycon John has vowed that his 20-member team of Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) personnel will deliver exceptional service that makes their entire nation proud, as they join a multinational security detail for the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
Held from Sunday through Wednesday in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, this landmark biennial summit marks a historic first for the Eastern Caribbean: it is the largest gathering of international delegates ever hosted in the sub-region, and cements Antigua and Barbuda’s status as the smallest sovereign nation to ever organize a CHOGM gathering. The high-level summit, themed “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth,” aligns with Antigua’s 45th Independence Day celebrations, and will welcome heads of state, senior diplomats, and an estimated 5,000 delegates from 53 confirmed Commonwealth member nations.
To manage the massive security demands of the event, organizers have assembled a 600-strong multi-national security task force, comprising law enforcement personnel from across the Caribbean, with specialized strategic backing from security teams in Canada and the United Kingdom. Sergeant John, leading a team of seasoned corporals and constables from SVG, shared his perspective in a recent exclusive interview with iWitness News, emphasizing that no single Caribbean nation had the capacity to execute such a large-scale security operation independently, making cross-regional collaboration non-negotiable for success.
“Saint Vincent will put its best foot forward on this global stage, and I give my full assurance that every member of our contingent will make our country proud,” John stated, extending gratitude to the RSVGPF Commissioner for entrusting his newly promoted leadership with this high-stakes national representation role. He noted that every officer in his team has been explicitly reminded they are acting as unofficial ambassadors for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, representing the core values embodied in the force’s iconic gold, blue, and green badge.
Prior to their deployment, the contingent completed rigorous pre-operation preparation: selected team members already held certification from the Regional Security System (RSS), while the full group completed targeted weapons training, scenario-based briefings, and operational walkthroughs led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Benzil Samuel, who oversaw the full selection and coordination process for SVG’s deployment. Upon arrival in Antigua, every officer was formally sworn in as a special constable under local jurisdiction and issued official event accreditation, before receiving their assigned operational duties. The SVG team has been tasked with supporting critical vehicle checkpoints across the summit zone, and providing escort support for high-level diplomatic convoys as they travel between delegate hotels, summit venues, and official side event locations.
Sergeant John shared that the experience of leading this mission so soon after his promotion has been deeply meaningful, noting that his team has displayed exemplary conduct, strong discipline, and eagerness to learn from peer officers from across the region. The contingent is currently stationed at a local Antiguan army base, where they are receiving full accommodation and catering support. John confirmed that all team members are in excellent health, morale across the group is extremely high, and no major issues have arisen since their arrival ahead of the summit’s official launch.
Newly promoted Sergeant leads SVG police team at int’l summit in Antigua
