Premier Parry praises police on Nevis
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| (L-R) Governor General His Excellency Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, Deputy Governor General His Honour Mr. Eustace John and Mrs. John, Mrs. Myrthlyn Parry (back row) Attorney General Hon. Dennis Merchant, Crown Counsel and Director of Public Prosecutions Mrs. Pauline Hendrickson |
CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (FEBRUARY 18, 2008) -- Premier of Nevis Hon. Joseph Parry lauded the efforts of The Royal St. Kitts and Nevis Police Force in particular the Nevis Division, for the work they have done on the island in the face of inadequate housing and equipment and he urged the people of Nevis to give the police their full support.
Mr. Parry praised the police during his remarks at the fifth Police Appreciation Awards 2007, which was held at the Old Manor Hotel, Gingerland, on February 16, 2008. The event was hosted by the Division’s Strategic Planning Group, under the theme “Building on five years of Success through partnership”.
“The Police have done a great job on the island of Nevis inspite of limited circumstances, inspite of the problem they have with housing, inspite of the problems they have with equipment. I was told that they do not have finger printing capacity…they do not have the equipment to take finger prints and these are some of the things that we have to work on to help our police to carry out their job.
“I must say this, that in spite of our limitations, inspite of our lack of equipment,
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| Premier of Nevis Hon. Joseph Parry (second from right) at the head table with (L-R) Police Commissioner Mr. Austin Williams, Mr. Franklyn Brand and Superintendent Samuel Seabrookes Head of the Nevis Police Division |
the human resource is still the most important resource in achieving anything including solving crimes or keeping traffic accidents down. So the people of Nevis need to give the police their fullest support.
We need to make sure that our police are trained, that they are comfortable and also that they are well paid and we have to find ways and means of doing this,” he said.
He noted too, that there was also the need to find ways of attracting new recruits from Nevis to the police force and believed that the solution may be in increased incomes.
Mr. Parry also addressed the increase in traffic accidents and the gang related activity that had surfaced in some schools and communities on the island, the problem of alcohol abuse and drug use and said the time had come for the people of Nevis and the police to take stock.
“I do feel that we have reached a stage in our lives where we need to take stock. The people of Nevis need to take stock. The police need to take stock. I would like to address the matter of traffic. I do believe that we have to find ways and means of using the radio and the television to educate the driving population. Perhaps we need to take very strong measures to cause the driving population to realise that there are rules to be obeyed on the road.
~~Adz:Right~~ “I do know we have spoken of a radar system whereby we can identify those people who are driving and breaking the rules, we have discussed other ways and means and certainly we have to do something about it….We need to alert people of the need to be careful on the road,” he said.
In the area of crime in particular the issue of drug use and gangs, Mr. Parry appealed to the community and cited that parents were responsible for the ill discipline that had manifested itself in gangs in the schools and the community.
He admonished parents to show their children tough love, in view of the poor behaviour demonstrated in schools, on the roads and in the communities.
Notwithstanding, the Premier had words of advice for the police on both St. Kitts and Nevis to be alert in the circumstances.
“I am saying to the police both in St. Kitts and Nevis that we have to be alert … because we have the old biblical attitude of an eye for and eye now and a hand for a hand and a heart for a heart and we really need to be on guard. We need to solve the crimes yes but we also need to sort the vendetta that seems to be developing on the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis,” he said, while he stressed the need for a surveillance system to monitor the movement of people from St. Kitts to Nevis.
Among those present at the ceremony were Governor General His Excellency Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, Deputy Governor General His Honour Mr. Eustace John, Commissioner of Police Mr. Austin Williams, Attorney General Hon. Dennis Merchant and President of the Nevis Island Assembly Mrs. Marjorie Morton and Mr. Ivor Blake Assistant Secretary of the Ministry National Security.
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