Crime Is Increasing Locally and Regionally
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
January 25, 2010 (SKNIS)
Prime Minster Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas has pledged to enhance the community approach to crime fighting.
At a recent forum with a group of young men, the Prime Minister said “I believe everyone has a purpose and every man must have an opportunity to better themselves.”
It’s a philosophy that has given birth to greater community policing initiatives and the creation of innovative programmes such as the Youth Empowerment through Skills (Y.E.S.) Project, which was devised to equip young people with social skills and the “know how” of barbering, landscaping, catering, bartending, air condition servicing and hairstyling as well as computer application.
The YES Project has touched more than 1,000 young people, giving them a second chance in life to reject antisocial influences and contribute positively to national development.
Noting that crime is increasing regionally and internationally, the St. Kitts and Nevis leader pledged to increase the dimensions of crime fighting. Strategies include consolidating alliances with the Regional Security System (RSS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), INTERPOL and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
On the local scene measures call for the strengthening the capacity of the security forces via recruitment and training, modernizing the infrastructure, improving the penal system and legislative reform. Greater attention will also be paid to the rehabilitation of legal offenders.
The Juvenile Coed Rehabilitation Center of St. Kitts and Nevis will play a preventative role when completed this year. Family outreach and reintegration into society will be two of the main services offered. The center is one component of Government’s Child Development Project (CDP) which seeks to improve the status of children at risk by supporting programmes of early detection and remediation of behavioural and learning difficulties as well as rehabilitative care for persons who have committed offenses.