Leacock Highlights Deplorable Police Conditions, Pledges Reform in National Security 

By Val Matthias. Updated 6:08 a.m., Friday, January 30, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4). 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Immigration, Major St. Clair Leacock, used his contribution to the 2026 Estimates debate to shine a spotlight on what he described as “deplorable and depressing” conditions within the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force.  

Leacock, who now holds direct responsibility for national security, lamented that police officers across the country are forced to work and live in substandard facilities, citing examples of termite-infested barracks, broken beds, and stations closed due to unsafe sanitation. He noted that female officers at one station were left without proper bedding, forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor.  

While the Estimates provide allocations to begin addressing these issues, Leacock admitted that the government is “cutting and contriving” to make immediate improvements, pledging that no officer under his watch should serve in conditions worse than their own homes.  

He also revealed that corporals and sergeants have been left unpaid for years despite acting in higher positions, promising that his ministry will regularize promotions and ensure officers are compensated fairly.  

Leacock emphasized that the government’s approach to national security will be people-centered, with a commitment to modernizing the police service and improving working conditions. He argued that the Estimates must go beyond infrastructure projects to reflect the “basic needs requirements of our people,” aligning national security investments with social development.  

The Minister’s remarks come against the backdrop of a national debt exceeding $3.5 billion and a debt-to-GDP ratio above 100 percent, which he acknowledged as a constraint on government spending. Still, he insisted that reforming the police service is a priority for the administration.  

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