By Jada Chambers
Newly promoted Sergeant of Police Raycon John has pledged that his contingent will make St. Vincent and the Grenadines proud as he leads a team of local law enforcement officers to provide security at a major global summit.
John, whose promotion took effect on Oct. 2, 2026, is heading a team of corporals and constables from the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) at the 28th biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
The summit, which runs from Sunday to Wednesday in St. John’s, marks a historic milestone as Antigua and Barbuda becomes the smallest nation to ever host the event.
The high-level meeting coincides with Antigua’s 45th Independence Day celebrations and is being held under the theme, “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth.”
It brings together heads of state and top diplomats from 53 confirmed member nations, alongside an influx of roughly 5,000 international delegates.
To secure the event, a multi-national security force of over 600 regional and international personnel has been deployed. This includes a 20-man contingent from SVG working alongside officers from several other Caribbean countries, with strategic support from Canada and the United Kingdom.
“… It is an experience for the Caribbean,” the Sergeant told iWitness News on Friday in an interview. “It is the first meeting [in Eastern Caribbean history] where so much delegates would be congregating.”
He addressed the need for regional integration to ensure the summit’s success.
“No one country can pull off this mission, so Saint Vincent will put the best foot forward; and as usual, thanks the Commissioner of Police for giving us the opportunity to come on this operation to represent Saint Vincent… and for sure we will make Saint Vincent proud. I can assure you that.”
John said he has reminded his team that they are ambassadors for their country.
“We are representing Saint Vincent, and we are ambassadors to the… gold, blue, and green badge.”
John said that the officers have already been sworn in as special constables in Antigua and were issued with their accreditation passes.
“So after the process was completed, I went to a meeting where we were given our specific tasks,” John said, adding that the officers are assigned to assist with vehicle checkpoints (VCPs) and convoy movements.
“So once a delegation from whichever country they assign us to [is] moving from a hotel to wherever a meeting is being… [held], we’ll be assisting… so those are basically our tasks for over here.”
John said leading the team means a lot to him and that the experience will go a long way.
“… The experience is very good… so far, I have a good bunch of guys, they are very mannerly and they are listening and they are willing to learn; so I would feel proud to be leading a delegation from Saint Vincent…as a person in charge, newly promoted…it means a lot to me…”
He added that Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Benzil Samuel is coordinating the operation, including the selection of the officers.
John, who noted that some of the selected officers had already undergone RSS training, and that the contingent underwent weapon training and briefings with ACP Samuel before departing for Antigua, said the officers are settling well in their temporary quarters. He added that spirits are high and no illnesses have been reported among the team.
“It’s not bad… we’re staying at the army base presently… and the accommodation is not bad… they’re responsible to feed us as well. The food, not bad… so everything is good so far.”