As a proud member of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, I stood in my immaculate uniform, shoes gleaming under the lights, and a fresh haircut framing my confident yet anxious smile. It was the nation’s 46th anniversary, a celebration of freedom from oppression and the chains that once bound our ancestors. Yet, as I stood there, a burning question consumed me: How independent are we, truly? How free are we as a police force, compelled to stage annual spectacles for the public we serve? How free are we as a nation, waiting not for inspiration but for handouts from the Prime Minister’s “goodie bag”? And how free are we as a government that prioritizes financial aid over sustainable development, or shifts blame onto those tasked with crime prevention rather than addressing the root causes? My frustration grew as I listened to speeches masking political agendas with national pride. I was devastated, tempted to turn away from the parade entirely. My disappointment stemmed not from being overlooked by the Minister of National Security or from seeing less deserving colleagues in prominent roles. It came from the Prime Minister’s failure to address crime mismanagement, his refusal to apologize for past mistakes, and his inability to inspire unity in a politically divided nation. As a citizen and a police officer, I urge my fellow officers to cast their votes in the upcoming general election with a clear question in mind: “Am I free?” Let us vote not for personal gain but for the future of our children, our neighbors, and our nation. We are not disposable, no matter how much they make us believe otherwise.
Inside the head of a police officer on Independence Parade
