Archbishop Edward Gilbert has called on the police to continue exercising their duties and build a civilisation of love.

He issued the challenge to members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) at their 20th Annual Inter-faith Service, held last Sunday at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

The annual gathering of officers, representing all the ranks of the Service, was headed by Police Commissioner Trevor Paul, who did a bible reading and later briefly addressed fellow officers.

“The congregation also included Acting Chief Justice Roger Hamel-Smith, Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls, members of the Police Service Commission, Defence Force and Prison Service, former Police Commissioners and retired officers. The theme for the inter-faith service was The Police Service and the values for the social community.

Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Orisa prayers were offered by respective members of the Inter-Religious Organisation. Between the prayers, the Police Choir sang and the Police Band played appropriate music.

The archbishop began his sermon by thanking the TTPS for their contribution to the life of the nation.

Noting that these were “dangerous times” with “senseless violence in society”, he said the families of officers surely thanked God whenever they returned home from work. But sometimes, he noted, officers did not return home.

Archbishop Gilbert greets Police Commissioner Trevor Paul and a senior police officer during the Police Service’s 20th Annual Inter-faith Service at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Raymond Syms photo

For those killed in the line of duty, he invited the gathering to bow their heads in a moment of prayer and remembrance.

The archbishop said it was human nature to love and to be loved, and that trouble arose when love was absent or frustrated. “Unless you have love, your life is empty…. Those who turn in on themselves live empty lives,” he added.

He complimented the TTPS for its efforts at community building, citing as a glowing example the Pride in Gonzales initiative - a collaboration of CITY (Community Intervention Transforming Youth), the Ministry of National Security, the City of Port of Spain, the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP), UWI and the community of Gonzales. The initiative won first place in Motorola’s 2006 competition for Community Police Initiatives.

Archbishop Gilbert encouraged the TTPS to continue such community building efforts as they brought comfort to citizens.

Speaking about the motivation of a police officer, he said officers could be motivated by either love of country and duty, or power and ambition. He said each officer should examine what motivates him/her and expressed the hope that it was love.

“Those who have joy and meaning in their lives have love. Those who do not are running on empty, and it will eventually show…. Everything in life is temporary – except love,” the archbishop stated.

He added: “Love helps people who have to be strong from becoming so tough that they become victims of the demands of their own profession.”

Archbishop Gilbert said the TTPS has the power to maintain order in society and so, among other things, to help build a civilisation of love. The police could help people see their own dignity - that there was more to life than violence and fear - and therefore build hope and trust, he added.

Intercessory prayers were later offered for civilians working in the Police Service, all police officers, their families, those who died on duty, retired officers and for the general public to respect and support the police in the performance of their duties.

Before concluding the service, Archbishop Gilbert blessed the officers by rank.
The service was followed by a parade through the streets of Port of Spain. - RS

Full sermon