CRIME continues to be the number one issue in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. We have reached the unenviable milestone of 23 murders for the year for St. Kitts and Nevis (five of which are for Nevis). This is unprecedented in our history and places us with the dubious distinction as the murder capital of the world, based on per capita statistics (the most murders of any country in the world per 100,000 people).

Some have made the pointless argument that we are not number one, but we are number two. It depends on what figures are used as the population size. Regardless of whether we are numbers one, two or 10, the number and apparent ease of the murders committed is of grave concern to our twin-island Federation. There seems to be an apparent diminished value of life infusing our society, which, alongside the low detection rates of these crimes has led us to a distressing position whether from the standpoint of native Nevisians, ex-pat residents, tourists or potential investors. At a time when we are, like the rest of the world, experiencing a grim economic climate, our security situation has reached near epic proportions. In Nevis, the Hurricane Omar related closing of the Four Seasons has made the economic picture even grimmer. 

Robberies, breaking and entering incidents, hold-ups at gunpoint, and other violent incidents are growing at an alarming and shocking rate in Nevis. In June 2008 business owners made decisions almost universally to close down and leave before dark.  Currently, in December 2008, the Medical University of the Americas, which boasts $.31 of our gross domestic product, has put out a notice to all their students forbidding them from leaving their homes and the University Campus to visit particular venues in Charlestown and around the island after dark.

Nevis has always been promoted as a quiet, safe and peaceful destination. That is the primary reason people come to our shores.  If fear begins to grip the hearts of our residents, then what is to be said of those who merely visit?  Informally kept records now reveal that the rate of break-ins into homes and businesses over the last three months could average 1-2 per day.  This distorts the fact that over a one or two-week period, a rash of breaking and entering incidents and a spate of robberies on persons may reach as high as 30 or 40.  No one knows the true picture in terms of numbers, as the Police are understandably not only overwhelmed, but sadly indifferent and simply unresponsive to an unfortunate number of these incidents. Persons who have reported break-ins that were in progress found that the Police simply failed to respond in a timely fashion, allowing the intruders time not only to complete their dark and shameful acts but also to take their loot away and even have sufficient time to return to get the rest.

There is a number of decent, well-meaning and professionally trained officers on the Police Force.  There are however too many that are callous, uncaring, poorly led and demoralised. The posture of some leaves much to be desired, allowing the public, who are the beneficiary of their service, feeling that they are unapproachable, arrogant and not giving a damn. When criticised, they defensively blame the community instead of taking responsibility and, too often than not, attack the press for their zeal in covering crime-related stories and the status of crime and security. 

By the same token, too many members of the community are entirely too harsh in their criticism of the Police and while understandable to some extent, they are also guilty of being dismissive of their authority and any effort made to perform their duty. Persons in the community know who the criminals are and are knowledgeable about the crimes that are committing, yet fear, cynicism and simply not being outraged enough prevent them from being a neighbor’s neighbor or being our brother’s keeper like we used to be. It is sometimes difficult to understand why the community doesn’t hold the political leaders, who are constitutionally in charge of directing the Police Force, more accountable. The Force is riddled with politics and a woeful lack of strong and clear leadership, yet the community is virtually silent in their criticism of the problems regarding security as it relates to the leadership at the top of the political hierarchy.  This leaves the responsibility for constructive criticism to the opposition party on both Islands, whose voices are muted by those partisans who support the incumbent power structure. For those partisans who support the opposition, harsh critique is levelled at the police and leaders of their respective island. This dynamic simply shifts from one vocal and harshly critical side to the next after an election in which the leadership changes. No one ever regrettably gets the sense however that the leadership changed because of gross incompetence or lack of clear political will and leadership with regards to the security forces in the country. 

To this point everyone appears complacent and accepting of what we are all told by our leaders. In St.Kitts, there are simply not enough resources to send more officers over to Nevis, properly train them, or to pay them higher salaries to attract more talented recruits. There is entirely too much moonlighting within the Force, with officers working second and third jobs outside of the Force (some of whose salaries are sadly lower than that of a construction labourer). It is imperative that this problem be dealt with and, once adequately confronted, will go a long way towards addressing the large scale mediocrity and apathy so pervasive in the Force.  In Nevis we are further reminded about limited resources but with another caveat added, i.e. the Constitution ties the hands of the Premier who can’t do anything about the Police Force in Nevis, except to sit with his hands folded and supervise the Island’s descent into chaos and very serious instability during his watch.  Leaders in the Opposition face God’s wrath directly should they dare to use the country’s plight for political gain. God forbids that they should exploit the country’s dark side by exposing it to the outside world for pure partisan benefit.

The incumbent political leaders should be ashamed of themselves and it is time this be said. They need to step up to the plate and assume full and total responsibility. Who is responsible for security, is it not them? Who is responsible for deciding how the resources in the Treasury should be divided and what should be spent on the various aspects of the public and, indirectly, the private sector, is it not them? Who can determine whether or not a percentage of the revenue made by investors to our shores be spent on security, is it not them?  Who is responsible for making the determination as to what percentage and in what form our Police should be trained and re-trained, disciplined, rewarded and promoted, is it not them?   Who can determine whether or not to reach out a hand, whether through their initiative or not and fully collaborate with elements of the private sector that have organised themselves and taken time from their otherwise busy lives without pay to engage in public service to assist with the problem of combating crime, is it not them? 

Tragically, our Police Force in the Federation is both managed and run much the way it did 60 years ago. The hierarchy within the Force is authoritarian and adheres to draconian policies, structure and style. Sadly, it is hamstrung by a system and political leadership that often uses it for political whims, subjecting the Force to a band of hapless lackeys at the mercy of a political directorate entirely too focused on getting a bigger slice of the country for their party than on real governance. The Police Force, instead, needs to be a fearless group of crusaders marching to vigorously ratchet down this growing scourge of criminal activity threatening our very survival.

It is sometimes interesting to watch the reaction of the political leaders when they get criticism for their handling of crime and security. What right thinking citizen would not, despite their political leanings or loyalties, support a government in its endeavors to get control of crime and strengthen the security apparatus in the country? Unfortunately, the Opposition is unable to make any constructive criticism! Any effort to do so is seen as being opportunistic. Any well-meaning suggestion offered by the opposition is almost invariably ignored and dismissed. Regular citizens criticise the government at their peril and risk being considered non-patriotic and trying to fight against, not crime but the government’s sincere and laudable efforts to improve the situation. This is unfortunate and makes the fight a lot harder than it otherwise could be.

So, to members of the community upon both islands, I ask, consistent with our value system, WHERE is the public outcry for the rapid escalation of crime on our beautiful island, particularly when older members of the community are violated and hurt? To our political leaders, I say, don’t be threatened by those who try to speak out and stand up to make their contribution.  Instead, appreciate that we share a common interest, propelling us to protect what is obviously our single greatest threat to our unique place in the tourist guide the world over. Doing nothing or playing defensive politics will surely cause us to maintain the unwanted top spot as a murder capital. To the Police, I say, don’t bite the hand that feeds you! Develop a better attitude and posture toward the community you are there to serve. Despite the hostility that comes across in the many criticisms, there is far more support there than what may be apparent. And to those who wish to perpetrate crime in our midst, the will of the community is strengthening to fight against you and to stop you and make you pay so severely that you might want to think long and hard before engaging in activities that breakdown the society you are preying on.

Finally, to the press, I say, your role is critical to the success in our fight against crime because if we are going to prevail, closer collaboration between the key stakeholders:  police, community, local and Federal government is absolutely imperative, with the press performing a central and facilitative function in this growing democracy of ours.