Government Appeals For Public Support
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
March 05, 2009 (CUOPM)
An appeal to the general public to support the measures to be adopted by the security forces in their bid to stem a spike in gang violence has come from Minister of Public Works, Utilities, Posts and Transport, Dr. the Hon. Earl Asim Martin and Prime Minister and Ministr of National Security, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas.
“The security forces as the Hon. Prime Minister has indicated will be carrying various exercise and I want to appeal to the general public that there will be some conveniences in the process and though these inconveniences will occur, it will be for the good of the whole country,” said Dr. Martin in brief comments at Wednesday night’s Press Conference of Prime Minister Douglas.
“I want you to lend your support to the police and other units of the security forces while they are carrying out these various measures,” said Dr. Martin who added that he expects these measures to be sustained over a period of time.
“I do not want that we respond at this particular moment and then we ease off and then there is an upsurge and we react. We need to be proactive from here on. That has been made clear to the security forces this afternoon during the Joint Cabinet Meeting that these measures must be on a sustained basis.
“The situation is not only affecting those families, but also the whole country and we need to bring an end to this situation which is alien to us,” said Minister Martin, who added: “Whether we are affected directly or indirectly, we are affected by what is happening.”
In his passionate statement Prime Minister Douglas appealed to all stakeholders who are responsible for the social, political and economic development of St. Kitts and Nevis for their support as the Police and the Defence Force and the appropriate officials in the Ministry of National Security work closely to arrest criminal activity.
“Dr. Martin alluded to the fact that there will be inconveniences because we are going to do it thoroughly,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
He appealed to the capable St. Kitts and Nevis media to assist in stemming criminal activity by being capable, mature, and responsible “as we carry out our respective and specific duties.”
“The country needs our support. It needs your support, its needs our support. This is not good. Let us arrest it. Let us arrest the dark crime that is in this country and which cannot be tolerated,” said Prime Minister Douglas.