BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PRIME Minister Dr. Terrance Drew has addressed the challenges facing St. Kitts and Nevis, as well as the wider Caribbean region, regarding the illicit flow of guns into the area.
Speaking at the opening of a training workshop, Prime Minister Drew highlighted the rise in firearm-related incidents, which has recently resurfaced as a pressing concern.
The Federation has reported 11 murders this year, with several occurring within the last two weeks.
"Here in St. Kitts and Nevis, we can give testimony to this as in the past year, we recorded several incidents of gun violence. Further solidifying my point is my country’s current reality where our law enforcement agencies are fully engaged to arrest a crime spike, we have been experiencing for the month of April.," Dr. Drew said.
While acknowledging that St. Kitts and Nevis is not immune to the rise in firearm-related crime, the prime minister noted that CARICOM IMPACS was established out of a collective desire to reduce gun trafficking and violence in the region. He highlighted the significant progress made over the past 18 years since its inception.
"We have benefited from capacity-building initiatives, explored avenues for sustainable intervention programmes, and implemented international and regional commitments that focus on the reduction of firearms-related violence. We have collaborated with various partners and stakeholders on policy issues that redound to the benefit of our region. We continue to work at finding new and innovative ways to advance security. However, like anything else, there is much more work to be done and improvements to be had."
Dr Drew reminded that the trafficking of illegal weapons into any territory is is a direct threat to the safety and security, and such actions undermine the efficacy and integrity of the national security apparatuses of Caribbean countries.
