RBPF - Eleuthera Division Pomp and Pageantry in Palmetto Point

L-R Superintendent Theophilus Cunningham, Officer-In-Charge South Eastern Division – New Providence; Mr. Willard Cunningham, Assistant Commissioner of Police for the Family Islands; and Superintendent Elburt Ferguson, Officer-In-Charge Central Bahamas

Annual Royal Bahamas Police Church Service on Sunday, February 27th, 2011 as seen by The Eleutheran.

(Palmetto Point, Eleuthera) The Pomp and Pageantry of the Royal Bahamas Police Force’ (RBPF) Annual March and Church Service was experienced in Eleuthera once again on Sunday February 27th, 2011, hosted by the Wesley Methodist Church in Palmetto Point.  After delighting spectators on Saturday, February 26, 2011 at the Rush for the Cure event held in Governor’s Harbour, the Royal Bahamas Police Force Marching Band treated persons lining the streets of Palmetto Point to an encore performance as they marched from the Central Eleuthera High School grounds to the Wesley Methodist Church. 

Top Brass leading the March through Palmetto Point to Wesley Methodist Church

Top Brass in attendance this year included Mr. Willard Cunningham, Assistant Commissioner of Police for the Family Islands; Superintendent Elburt Ferguson, Officer-In-Charge Central Bahamas Division; and Superintendent Theophilus Cunningham, Officer-In-Charge South Eastern Division – New Providence.  They were also accompanied by the Reverend Father Stephen Davis, Force Chaplin and Education Officer; Chief Inspector Roston Moss, Assistant Superintendent Lucas Armbrister, Inspector Lloyd Rolle, Inspector Marlon Fullford and Inspector Butler.

RBPF Marching Band kept toes tapping and spectators thoroughly entertained.

After the Fanfare of the marching Force entering the Church, RBPF Chaplin and Education Officer, the Reverend Father Stephen Davis presided over the ceremonial service.  It was highlighted by Davis that members of Immigration, Customs and Road Traffic were also in attendance.  The service was divided into first a Call to Worship, followed by an Act of Dedication, then a Remembrance of the Deceased.

Malik Fox with her dulcet tones, sang 'There's a Hero'.

During the Call to Worship, scripture readings were shared with the audience, Miss Malik Fox enthralled the attendees with her selection of “There’s A Hero” – as well as Eleuthera  RBPF’s own VPR 192 Joan Cooper with her selection of “Lord help my Will to crumble”, and Deputy Congregational Board Chairlady Rosemary Thompson welcomed everyone and introduced the afternoon’s speaker – Reverend Kenya Lovell.  Lovell shared a passage in Corinthians, detailing the experience of Paul and Silas with a Jailor – who was ultimately saved along with his entire household as a result of meeting the New Testament missionaries.  Lovell’s message to attending officers and the audience was – being above reproach and upstanding as citizens and officers and always doing the right thing, even when it’s not the easy thing to do.  

Officers serving throughout the island of Eleuthera worshiping at Wesley Methodist in ceremonial uniform.

After guest Pastor Kipling Johnson of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Governor’s Harbour read the Intercessions on behalf of the Country, its National and Local Leaders, and Enforcement Organizations, the service moved into the Act of Dedication portion.  Inspector Lloyd Rolle read the Dedication which expressed the desire on behalf of the entire Eleuthera Division of the Force to have God in control of their hearts, minds, imaginations and wills and to be totally dedicated to God and His use.  A special offertory presentation was then made by Superintendent Elburt Ferguson to Reverend Kenya Lovell, receiving on behalf of Wesley Methodist Church – while a special guest band from the North Eleuthera High School (NEHS) played with two selections with the gusto they are becoming well known for.  Presentation of the Colors with the RBPF Color Party Officers parading symbolic flags to themed music by the Police Band followed.

Names of fallen members of Enforcement Organizations throughout the Bahamas were then called out by Sergeant 1216 Turnquest in a Remembrance of the Deceased ceremony, a very solemn part of the Annual Service after which the Police Band performed the traditional Last Post & Reveille (the Last Post denoting the end of the day in military service and the Reveille, symbolizing the awakening of a new life).  Ceremonial flags were lowered during the Last Post selection and raised once again during the playing of the Reveille.

The North Eleuthera High School Band displaying their combined talent.

Before the formal end of the Service, Mr. Willard Cunningham gave brief remarks, congratulating the NEHS Band on their performance during the ceremony and at the recent Police Beat Retreat on Bay Street in Nassau, where the relatively new school band made history by being the very first guest band ever to be invited to perform during the Beat Retreat.  The Assistant Commissioner also commented on the very positive influence community relationship policing has had on the reduction of crime within the past year throughout the Family of Islands, while commending former Eleuthera Officer-In-Charge Theophilus Cunningham for the capture of the famed Barefoot Bandit during his watch.

At the Service’s end, Davis, Force Chaplin and Education Officer gave a direct charge to NEHS students in the audience, telling them to stay on the right path, and on the right side of the law.  He also emphasized the importance of them paying close attention to their studies, saying that, if any of them were interested in joining the Police Force, they would have to pass the entrance examinations – reemphasizing the Force would not hire those persons who could not pass the test.  This comment comes on the heels of the most recent results for persons applying to the RBPF from Eleuthera, a group of 26, resulting in just 3 passes. 

After the ceremony, the Eleuthera Police Force with the guest officers from the Police Band out of New Providence gave the even larger group of spectators who had gathered outside of the church a final march through the settlement, winding their way finally back to the church grounds, where Willard Cunningham gave a final address to the gathered officers, charging them to be their best and to do what they do to the honor and glory of God.

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