Emphasis placed on the Crime and Violence
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AS the Annual Fire Safety Summer Camp kicked off this morning (July 10), the Federal Government and the St. Kitts and Nevis Fire and Rescue Services have collaborated to implement the topic of Crime and Violence on the programme.
The summer camp, which is in its 15th year, will span five days rather the initial three.
In officially opening the camp, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Osmond Petty indicated that this year they are playing host to a combined 481 children across the Federation at four venues – 61 in Nevis and 420 in St. Kitts.
During the camp, the children will be focusing on Water, Traffic and Fire Safety; Crime and Violence; and Disaster Preparedness.
“Each of these five areas sends different messages, but all send the same goal which is to keep you safe, to keep our homes safe, to keep the country safe,” Petty said.
He told reporters that the rationale behind the Government incorporating Crime and Violence in this year’s programme is because they have launched a social initiative that is geared towards dealing with problem among children.
“There are two aspects to crime and violence. One of course is police activities, trying to curb or control the gang influence and illegal activities in the community. The other aspect is what we refer to as a social programme, where we have to get at the root of this, which is to get to children at an early age, and we are rolling out at the Ministry of National Security a number of programmes geared towards that, getting at young children and young teenagers.
“And so this Fire and Rescue programme brings together over 400 children and is therefore a good forum to discuss with them issues relating to crime and violence.”
The PS called on the children to have fun, be respectful, have a discipline behaviour and portray a positive attitude throughout the programme.
The camp wraps up on Friday (July 14.) with a march through the streets of Basseterre by all camp participants.
