Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin has pledged to strengthen insurance coverage and welfare benefits for police officers, affirming that the government bears a responsibility to better protect those who risk their lives in service to the nation.
According to Antigua News Room, Benjamin made the commitment while delivering the keynote address at the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda's 50th recruit graduation ceremony on Thursday. He told those gathered that the government is committed to improving support for officers and their families, particularly in cases where officers are injured or killed in the line of duty.
Benjamin said policing remains one of the country's most demanding professions and that officers should not have to worry about whether their families will be adequately cared for if tragedy strikes.
The Attorney General said the government is reviewing measures aimed at providing improved insurance protection for officers who suffer injuries while on duty, alongside strengthened welfare arrangements for their families. He stressed that those serving in law enforcement routinely place themselves in dangerous situations to protect the public and deserve firm assurances that the state will stand behind them.
Benjamin argued that improving officers' welfare must extend beyond salaries and equipment to include meaningful support systems that recognise the full weight of the sacrifices made by police officers and their loved ones.
He also underscored the government's broader investment in national security, pointing to ongoing efforts to modernise policing through technology, training and improved infrastructure.
Addressing the graduating recruits directly, Benjamin urged them to carry out their duties with integrity, professionalism and compassion. He reminded them that public confidence in the police depends not only on their ability to enforce the law but equally on the manner in which they serve.
The welfare commitments formed part of a wider address in which Benjamin emphasised that national development depends on a professional, well-supported police service capable of meeting increasingly complex security challenges.
