Newly appointed Public Safety Minister Maxwell Burgess is to set up a national consultative committee to support the work of Parish Constables.

The new minister made his announcement recently at an awards ceremony honouring the work of Eastern Division officers.

Mr. Burgess revealed to a distinguished audience, which included Governor Thorold Masefield, Police Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay and Opposition Leader Jennifer Smith, that he would be setting up an umbrella organisation to support the three regional branch committees.

"I will be taking steps in the near future to extend the consultative committees.

"It has always been our intention to expand the service and I will be having discussions with the Commissioner about the composition and workings of a national committee.

"This will create a national forum where the group cause of local problems can be addressed.'' Mr. Burgess went on to congratulate the Eastern Division Consultative Committee for recognising the work of Parish Constables.

"It takes a special kind of officer to do this job and for that reason they deserve our gratitude,'' he said.

"Parish Constables are an important component of the Police Service and are the most visible and recognisable part of it.

"This is my first public duty as Minister responsible for the Police and I can tell you that I'm very excited about the prospects of helping the service.'' Eastern Division Consultative Committee chairman Mr. Toppy Cowen also praised the work of the officers.

"We cannot stress enough the importance of our Parish Constables,'' he said.

"Their tasks are endless and perhaps not fully appreciated, hence the reason for this presentation today to recognise their valuable contribution. On behalf of the consultative committee I would like to express our appreciation for a job well done.

"A sturdy community will only survive if the people within their district are prepared to address unacceptable criminal and anti-social behaviour. We think it is absolutely critical for us to foster links with the local Parish Constables and to assist them to achieve harmony in the community.'' The seven officers each presented with a plaque by Governor Masefield in recognition of their work were Pc.s Craig Outerbridge, Kirk Howard Saunders, Dawson Dates, Alex MacDonald, Steve Nurse and Ian Moe and Sgt. Huron Vidal.

Pc. Moe, who has worked as a Parish Constable for the last ten years, said: "We're seen as the friendly face of the Police Service but first and foremost we're officers and we have to continue to act in that capacity. The job still has to be done.

"But Parish Constables are different in that we are more in touch with members of the public on a personal basis.

"Whereas other officers investigate an incident and then, when it's done it's over, we are in contact with the community all the time.

"I personally enjoy interacting with the various cultures here in Bermuda.

We're also in the schools a lot with the kids which is a good thing to do.'' POLICE POL