BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ABOUT 40-45 business owners at Port Zante met with two top cops of the Royal St. Christopher Police Force today (Sep. 13), at Rum Barrel Bar, to voice their disappointment with the security measures there.
According to Sunil Gehani, owner of Square Duty Free, he said that there are several persons who come down to Port Zante and harass tourists.
He spoke of an incident where one of the store owners was actually threatened yesterday by a man whom he said was asking tourists for money for a church function.
“We tried to call the General Manager of Urban Development Corporation (UDC), Keith Phillip, but he, too, was threatened last week. We called the security and the security is no good, so by the time she came close the man ran away.”
“The security is saying it is the police’s job and when we call the police they are saying it is the Port Security’s responsibility… we just want to know whose job it is,” Gehani said.
Aviansh Sippy, of Diamond Island, said that he was threatened by the man who was also wearing a badge stating he was from a church.
Sippy said he was unsure which church the man claimed to be from.
“He came to my store and at my door, threatened to hit me, and told me we don’t belong here, and continued doing what he is doing… all the stores have a problem with him… he’s a very arrogant guy,” he said.
The store owners want to know what can be done to create a solution for the problem as the new tourism season approaches.
Ian Queeley, Commissioner of Crime said that any incident of public safety or public disorder is the responsibility of the police and that to hear the police neglected duties is something worth looking into.
Queeley said that there were no reports logged but the incident will be investigated. He further confirmed that according to the laws of the federation begging is still an offense.
Inspector Franklyn Belgrove, who is head of the Criminal Investigation Department, said that people who made complaints should also be prepared to go to court and testify in the matter if anything meaningful can be done.
Queeley also said that the police will be willing to assist the security at Port Zante by offering training and that certain measures can be implemented to assist with the issue.
Urban Development Corporation’s General Manager said that there is not much the security at Port Zante can do but said that they are willing to work with the police as it is a concern for them also.
