Antiguans on Queen's New Year's Honours list named

One current and one retired officer of the Royal Police Force of Antigua & Barbuda and the director of  the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Marine Services (ADOMS) have been named on the Queen’s 2017 New Year’s honours list.
ADOMS Director Dwight Gardiner, who has also served as ambassador and permanent representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the International Maritime Organization and specialised agencies of the United Nations, is to be an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).
He has been involved with the maritime sector in Antigua & Barbuda in one aspect or another for over 34 years.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Alvin Thomas and Philip Isaacs, a retired assistant commissioner, are being awarded Queen’s Police Medals (QPM).
“It’s very emotional and exciting. It’s excitement that has me at the top, but I’m very humble about it,” Thomas said. “As a young man from Barbuda, it gives me great pleasure to rise to higher heights.”
Thomas, who enlisted in the force in 1976, was appointed to his latest position as assistant commissioner in June last year, after serving as superintendent for four years.
“Younger police officers, what I would do now is encourage them to look forward and look beyond the future,” Thomas said. “It’s not about you and just being a sergeant or a corporal. Times have changed. Technology has changed. The entire rhythm of the force has changed.”
Retired Assistant Police Commissioner Isaacs, who in his 38 years of service to the police force was also head of the Criminal Investigation and Traffic Departments, said, “I was very happy to receive the award.
“I would like to encourage them [current police officers] to do their best in carrying out their duties. Be honest. Look at everyone you’ve encountered, whether it’s a bad person or good person, and make sure they get justice.
“All in all, I believe I did justice to the time I was in the force,”
Isaacs added that his proudest achievement was during the investigation of the assassination of Grenadian Prime Minister Maurice Bishop on which he served as second-in-command.
The appointees have received letters of notification for their position, but a date for the official ceremony has yet to be announced.