Nevisian Author – Mr. Whitman Browne
Charlestown, Nevis
August 7th, 2008
As the Nevis Reformation Party led Nevis Island Administration continues to look at crime in a serious manner, Premier of Nevis, the Hon. Joseph Parry hosted a lecture by Nevisian Author and Educator, Mr. Whitman Browne who discussed the topic: Countering Criminal Behaviour in our Changing Caribbean, at the Red Cross building on Chapel Street in Charlestown on Wednesday night.
Among the audience, crammed into the main hall of the Red Cross building, were returning nationals, students and persons from the private and public sectors.
On delivering brief remarks, Premier Parry stated that the police have done a wonderful job trying to combat crime on the island. “I would like to give congratulations to Superintendent Seabrookes, Commissioner Williams and Deputy Commissioner Stafford for doing a marvellous job during the Culturama season. I would also like to thank the members of the St.Kitts Police Force for their assistance and support in executing checks and raids. I am also pleased to announce that the raids will be on a continual basis until we are satisfied that we have brought this crime wave under control,” said the Premier.
Premier Parry noted the steps taken by the NIA to alleviate crime in Nevis. He said that surveillance cameras would be around Charlestown shortly to monitor the crime on the island. Premier Parry also discussed the recently ended training program in Trinidad, where young Nevisians were granted the opportunity to acquire skills that would give them a sense of pride and accomplishment.
“The Trinidad training program should be supported rather than criticised,” he said. The Premier continued by reminding the audience of the great effort taken by the NIA to train Nevisians and give them the opportunity to gain worthwhile skills, so that they do not have to take part in criminal activities. “I truly believe any effort to undermine the program will not be in the best interest of Nevisians,” he explained.
During the symposium, featured speaker Mr. Whitman Browne offered guidelines on how to counter criminal behaviour in the Caribbean region. “Education is necessary for change,” he said. Forewarned is forearmed.” He explained to the audience what would happen if immediate changes are not made by those in society. Mr. Browne warned that there is a great need to make changes now, before the problem becomes worse. “Crime is everyone’s business not just the government’s business; and the community should meet on a regular basis and share ideas with one another. If we don’t take action now, we will be destroying ourselves. If we continue to have all these murders in our society, we can begin to see our people dying little by little. Who will become the rulers of our society- the gangs? Then once they have killed one another they will turn on whoever is left, it is a serious situation,” echoed Mr. Browne.
Mr. Whitman Browne, who hails from the village of Buttlers, in St. James, is the author of three books, The Christena Disaster, The Christena Disaster in Retrospect and From Commoner to King”“Biography of the First Premier of St.Kitts- Nevis, the Hon. Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw.