37 police officers promoted |25 September 2015

Minister Bastienne, commissioner Quatre, deputy commissioner Hunter, assistant commissioner for policing Elizabeth, assistant commissioner for support Hermitte and superintendant Songoire pose for a souvenir photo with the 37 officers who have just been promoted

Thirty-seven officers from several units of the Seychelles police force have been promoted to the ranks of special corporal, corporal, sergeant, sub-inspector and inspector. Only Vincent Marie was promoted to the rank of inspector.

The officers were presented with their new epaulettes by the commissioner of police Ernest Quatre in a short ceremony yesterday morning at the Seychelles Police Academy, Pointe Larue.

Out of the 37 officers one has been promoted to special corporal after being a special constable, two have moved from lance corporals to corporals, 14 from constables to corporals, 12 from corporals to sergeants, seven from sergeants to sub-inspector and one from sub-inspector to inspector.

Inspector Marie joined the police force as a recruit seven years ago and he enrolled on the Young Leaders’ Programme and upon completion he was promoted to the rank of sergeant.

As a sergeant he worked at the academy as a course director for post secondary education before being transferred to the Anse Aux Pins police station where he is now the station commander. Mr Marie was promoted to the rank of sub-inspector in February this year and through his excellent performance he has managed to become an inspector.

He said: “I am very happy with what I have achieved in seven years. My dream is to one day become the commissioner of police, so I will keep working hard until I get to where I want to be.”

The promotion ceremony was attended by the Minister for Home Affairs Charles Bastienne, deputy commissioner of police Vernon Hunter, assistant commissioner for policing (ACP) Reginald Elizabeth, assistant commissioner for support Godfra Hermitte and the commander of SPA Superintendant Francis Songoire.

ACP Reginald said promotion in the police force is not automatic as the officers have been evaluated and recommended by their commanding officers; therefore they have been ranked according to their performance.

“This is the approach the police administration is taking with regard to future promotion. It is through good performance and service in respective postings. You also have to take into account that there are limits on how many promotions that can be given in a year,” he said.