This edition of Portfolio begins our “Meet SLASPA’s Port Police Management Team” series where we will profile the recently elected Port Police management team at SLASPA, a nine member team who together ensure that St. Lucia’s Ports of Entry are secure and meet all international, regional and local safety standards and regulations. This week, we take a look at the man who leads this team of highly skilled and qualified Port Police personnel, Mr. Kennedy Francis.

Chief Kennedy Francis is the first Port Police Officer to have risen through the ranks to take on the job of Chief of Port Police. Mr. Francis joined SLASPA in 1984 as a recruit Constable and completed his initial police training at the Police Training Academy in 1985. His first tour of duty was at Hewanorra International Airport (HIA) where in 1989, he was promoted to the rank of Corporal. Between 1992 and 1999 he was seconded to the La Toc Police Academy where he served as an Instructor. Upon completion of his attachment, he returned to HIA where he was subsequently promoted to the rank of Sergeant. In 2001, he assumed command of the Southern Division and was responsible for managing security at both the air and sea ports.

Mr. Francis holds a Diploma in Security Management and a Postgraduate Diploma in Police Leadership and Management with the University of Leicester. Over the past 22 years, Chief Francis has received extensive training both locally and overseas in Aviation and Maritime Security Management, Airport Security Program Development, Aviation and Maritime Security Train the Trainer, Instructor Development, Port Safety and Security and Seaport Anti‐Terrorism training.

With the implementation of the ISPS code in 2004, Mr. Francis was instrumental in the development of port security plans for official ports of entry in Saint Lucia, an Airport Security Program for HIA, assisted in the development of the National Civil Aviation Security Program and the draft National Screener Certification program. For the first ICAO Universal Security Audit of Saint Lucia, Mr. Francis served as the Technical Liaison Officer as well as assisted in the development of Saint Lucia’s Action Plan.

Mr. Francis has served as Chief of Port Police for the last five years, where he is responsible for managing all of SLASPA’s security systems. He is also a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the Chairman of SLASPA’S Disaster Management Committee where he is responsible for Disaster Management, Coordination, Planning and Response.

Look out for our next profile on Mr. David Maître, Deputy Chief of Port Police – Northern Division.