Forty-five cadets join police force |03 August 2013

A group of 45 cadets graduated yesterday after successfully completing an 18-month course at the Seychelles Police Academy.

The graduation ceremony was held at the Seychelles Police Academy, Pointe Larue, in the presence of Vice-President Danny Faure, Home Affairs and Transport Minister Joël Morgan, commissioner of police Ernest Quatre and commandant of the academy Superintendent François Freminot.

Others included high ranking officials from the police department, police officers, staff of the academy and parents.
The ceremony started and ended with a parade which was inspected by Mr Quatre.

Topics covered during the training included police officer profession in the Seychelles context, self-defence and restraining skills, human rights, acts, laws, rules and regulations in the context of policing among others.

During the ceremony, the new graduates took their oath before the guests and were presented with their certificates, which were collected by Kurtis Matombé on their behalf.
Four awards were also given to cadets who excelled during their training.

The academy’s overall best performer was Emmanuel Perreau who won the President’s Cup among other prizes. He was also the best academic performer.

Betty May Lesperance won the award for the most disciplined cadet during the course, while Daryl Suzette got the work based experience best performer award.

Addressing those present, Mr Morgan said the graduation of those cadets represents another significant milestone for the Seychelles police force.

Mr Morgan said since announced changes were made in 2010, positive results of the objectives set by the force are beginning to be seen.
“A clear example of this is the decrease in crime rate recorded by the latest statistics for June 2013, showing that crime has decreased by 15% compared to the same period last year,” he added.
“Even if statistics show a decline in crime, we are cognizant of the fact that even one house-breaking, robbery or drunk driver on the road is one too many,” said Minister Morgan.

He added that police officers must be part of a service delivery that seeks to improve on what is being done today.
Also congratulating the graduates was Superintendent Freminot who described the graduation of the cadets as the culmination of hard work.

He called on them not to forget the etiquette of professionalism as they are at the threshold of their career.

Guests at the event had the chance to see a demonstration by a group of police young leaders following courses at the academy.