BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, November 1st 2009 (PAM Secretariat) - Leader of the People’s Action Movement (PAM), Lindsay Grant has severely criticized the Federation’s Prime Minister, the Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas for the continued escalation of crime and violence in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“In 1995 when PAM left office there were four murders in the Federation. However, we continue to see each year the murder rates continue to surpass each others since the Labour Party has taken government. As such, today we are seeing that already there have been 25 murders so far for the year.
Unfortunately, this Federation is faced with a criminal industry that is larger in its growth than the whole economy, and our young brothers and sisters have become the victims. Today, we see that nobody is safe and therefore we need to call a spade a spade and let Dr. Douglas know that it is as a result of his leadership that crime and violence have gone out of control,” Grant declared.
The PAM Leader said that the Prime Minister, who holds the portfolio of National Security Minister, continues to preside over the already record-breaking Federation’s murder rate. “When they (Labour Party) were seeking office in 1995 he had made a commitment to the people of this Federation that should his party take office they were going to make crime their number one priority, thus reducing what he had labelled as our alarming crime rate due to four murders,” he noted.
Grant said that the Prime Minister should act mature and take full responsibility for the breakdown of law and order in this society. He however said that what is very painful is that the Prime Minister continues to declare that he takes no responsibility for the murders occurring in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“How could the Prime Minister and Minister of National Security be so irresponsible to be seen laughing on television when there was a major double murder the very day and, also, he can find time to be enjoying himself at various functions despite murders being committed just a few hours before and he refuses to offer any sympathy,” he asked.
"I honestly believe that he has to be very happy, thus his carefree and actions," Grant suggested. Commenting further on the crime situation Grant noted that there are no serious effective crime fighting initiative in place, as a result of the unbelievable corruption that exists in government. He stressed that government’s refusal to address the growing concerns that the public has is certainly testimony to the Prime Minister’s refusal to be accountable for his government’s actions.
He noted that a government of the people would seek to ensure that there is development of the Federation, improvement of the quality of life, provision of basic amenities and general happiness of the nation so as to ensure growth and development. Noting the importance for government to address the growing issue regarding the Federation’s underprivileged, Grant assured that with a PAM government it would be a priority.
“We have and continue to pledge that under PAM we will make sure that the underprivileged has a better deal during PAM’s tenure in office. We will also ensure that immediately after taking office, a programme of actions to increase the empowerment of the poor, and provide an opportunity that they didn’t have before is put in place."
The PAM Leader stated that the level of poverty within the Federation continues to increase while the government's spending was rising. Grant said that it should be a priority of any government to see opportunities for the young increasing.
"There is an important question that the public needs to ask the Prime Minister, and that is what has he been doing with the taxpayers’ monies as we continue to see poverty while crime continues to be the order of the day,” he said.
