The Tribune

By VANESSA SMITH

The Exuma Division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force recently celebrated their annual church service at St John’s Union Baptist Church as well as their yearly parade.

The host pastor for this special occasion was Rev Daniel Morley and presiding over the event was the president of the Bahamas Baptist Union of Churches, Rev Lynden Clarke.

Commissioner Anthony Ferguson, Assistant Commissioner Kendal Strachan, Superintendent Rodney Williams, officer in-charge of the Exuma District and the officers of Exuma’s police force united in a time of prayer, praise and worship. Also joining the effort were the Correctional Services, Customs, Immigration and Road Traffic departments, as well as the Airport Authority.

Taking to the pulpit were clergy members from the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Union Baptist Church and the Church of God denominations, including Rev Dr John Rolle, former Deputy Commissioner of Police.

Rev Franklyn McKenzie, president of the Exuma Christian Council and a former police officer himself, read from 1 Kings 3 on the topic “So Help Me God”.

“We must accept God’s help. Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David. As you serve our nation, officers, you must seek God’s help and carry out your responsibilities. The people of the Bahamas are looking up to you and are depending on you,” said Rev McKenzie. “God will help you through the process and your approach must be from a godly perspective. We have to encourage our people to respect law and order for a better society.”

He also encouraged the officers to be true to the oath they have taken.

There was a presentation of colours of the Bahamas and the police standards, and a time for remembering the fallen officers from the ranks of all uniformed branches.

Commissioner Ferguson made a donation to the host pastor and he and his officers marched to the beats of the police band around Lake Victoria, back to the police headquarters in George Town.