St. Kitts – Nevis’ PM – Dr. Denzil Douglas
Photo By Erasmus Williams
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
August 10, 2009
St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas has demanded full implementation of the anti-gang plan and policy following the murder of a 14-year-old school girl on the weekend.
Speaking at a public meeting on Sunday night, Prime Minister Douglas described as “senseless the killing of 14-year-old Stancia Lake in West Basseterre and the killing in The Bahamas of Tajia Soles-Armory, the wife of local businessman Kachi Armony.
Expressing sympathy to the families of both persons, Dr. Douglas said crime and violence must not be allowed to derail the progress being made to enhance the quality of life of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis and demanded full implementation of the anti- gang plan and policy and the mobilization of the intelligence and operation arms of the anti-gang unit.
“This senseless crime and violence must come to an end. I sympathize with the family of this young girl and the families of all those persons who have lost their lives. This peaceful country must not be taken hostage by a few people, who believe that they can take people’s lives at random at their will and fancy. It must not continue here in St.Kitts and Nevis. It cannot continue and tonight we grieve with all the families,” Dr. Douglas told a public meeting in East Basseterre Sunday night.
He said that St. Kitts and Nevis, the Government and its people are seriously challenged by violence and crime.
“The Ministry of National Security shall continue to provide the necessary strong and responsible leadership in the fight against crime and violence in St.Kitts and Nevis. We shall continue to provide adequate support and leadership to the law enforcement officers, the security forces generally, especially those who are engaged in the prevention and detection of crime. We shall continue to provide adequate training opportunities overseas and in-service so that our police officers can improve and modernise their professional skills in fighting crime here in St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Dr. Douglas.
He said his Labour Party Administration shall ensure that the necessary equipment, tools and vehicles are available to the members of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force so that they can operate efficiently in the detection of crime.
In a message directed at the security forces, Prime Minister Douglas said the citizenry is demanding more professional service.
“Our people are demanding much more speedier and efficient responses whenever they are in the stress and they call for police help in their home or where ever they are. We demand appropriate response by the police to calls from persons in our communities who are facing criminal activities or who are facing criminal activities,” Dr. Douglas said.
He demanded implementation of the anti- gang plan and policy and the mobilization of the intelligence and operational arms of the anti-gang unit that have been put in place several months ago.
“We demand continued foot patrols and mobile patrols in the hot-spot areas frequented by criminals and gangs where gun violence and drug related violence take place,” said Dr. Douglas.
He emphasized that each and every single citizen must understand that he or she has a responsibility to join hands with the security forces and fight criminal activity and make sure that there is a deterrent in violence and crime in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“I ask for support not only from our fellow citizens but from the non-governmental organisations, our community-based organizations, from the church, from those specific groups in our communities that have mobilization over the last few months in watching with our young people so that they can improve their own basic training, their own basic skills, their values so that they can make a contribution in the deterrence of crime and violence here in St.Kitts and Nevis,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
He warned that crime and violence must not rob the people of St. Kitts and Nevis of their government because the opposition People’s Action Movement (PAM) has politicized crime and violence here in St.Kitts and Nevis.