by Devonne Cornelius
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): Governments and law enforcement bodies within CARICOM are not stopping short of implementing plans and programs to curb crime and violence in their respective countries.
In St. Kitts and Nevis, the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force has been ramping up efforts to suppress violent crimes across communities in the Federation. Commissioner of Police Mr. James Sutton and Commander of the Defence Force Mr. J. Anthony Comrie recently met with Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew and his Cabinet colleagues to address the crime situation.
According to the April 11 post-cabinet briefing, Commissioner Sutton and Commander Comrie gave a “comprehensive and compelling presentation” on the current crime situation in St. Kitts and Nevis and their plans for reducing criminal activities, especially violent crimes.
The local police will be reinstating the School Liaison Officer programme to encourage positive mentorship of our young students, encourage and support neighbourhood watches, improve the dissemination of information to the public, train national security personnel in all areas of service, maximize the use of technology and forensic science in their operations, and support youth-focused and behavioural programmes of the Ministries of Education and Social Services.
St. Kitts and Nevis has seen an upsurge in violent crimes in the country since early January, with nine homicides recorded to date. Of that total, eight were gun-related, and one resulted from a stabbing incident.
In St. Lucia, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, who also holds the portfolio of national security minister, called on the Regional Security System, which includes the member states of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, for assistance in managing the situation.
The government has also implemented round-the-clock police patrols in response to violent crimes there.
