February 27 is the day when Commissioner Mitchell Harrigan will officially retire from the Royal Anguilla Police Force. The occasion will be marked by a parade and handover ceremony. In the lead up to that event, Governor and Mrs. Peter Johnstone hosted a reception for Mr. Harrigan at Government House on February 13.

A cross section of the invited guests and family members of Mr. Harrigan at the reception

In attendance were a number of officials in the public and private sector, senior police officers as well as family and friends of the Commissioner and Mrs. Verlyn Harrigan.

The Governor said it was a great privilege for him to have worked with the Commissioner, the second person he had met on his arrival at Wallbalke Airport to assume his duties in Anguilla.

“It has been very kind of you to look after me in the way that you have personally done I have appreciated that,” Mr. Johnstone told Mr. Harrigan. “You also made sure that my wife was looked after whenever we went to formal occasions and needed that sort of guardianship. We much appreciated it on a personal level how you have taken care of us.”

The Governor offered the outgoing Commissioner every good wish in his retirement and looked forward to seeing him all smart and serious on the day of his final parade.

Mr. Mitchell spoke highly of Mr. Johnstone whom he described as “a small Governor with a big heart” and said it was a pleasure to have worked closely with him. The retiring Commissioner recounted how from “a simple fisherman” he had joined the police force as a Special Constable then worked his way up the ranks over the years.

He emphasised that his rapid promotion was due to hard work. “I have always lectured to the officers that nothing good comes easy,” he stated. “A man who wants to reach the top or higher rank must work hard. I will retire on February 27 and I feel good to have done what I had to do for Anguilla faithfully. I encourage not only the police but everybody else in the public service to give of your best.”

Mr. Harrigan was grateful to the Governor, past and present officials of Government, all ranks of the force and the public for contributing to the success of his work. He was especially thankful to his wife for her support when, as captain of the police launch and head of the marine division, he safeguarded the island’s territorial waters from drug traffickers.

“I must thank her for the sleepless nights she endured when so many threats were made against my life,” he said. “There were many persons who wanted me to step down or go into hiding so that the drug pushers and all other bad people could be left alone to carry out their illegal activities. I said no way. Threats or no threats I have a job to do and I am going to do it. My wife stuck with all of that.”

A cross section of the invited guests and family members of Mr. Harrigan at the reception

Anguilla owes Mr. Harrigan a debt of gratitude for his overall commitment to duty in the face of every challenge.

Outgoing Commissioner Mitchell Harrigan and his wife Mrs. Verlyn Harrigan thanking the Governor and Mrs. Peter Johnstone for hosting the reception at Government House

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