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Gun-related murders at all-time high
By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - WITH 64.52 percent of gun-related murders occurring in St. Kitts and Nevis, and with the realisation of a 35 percent detection rate of these murders, the Federation is being faced with a trend which, if not dealt with soonest, may prove even more problematic than present.
The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, via a body of comparative statistics, is reporting that over the past few years there has been a considerable increase in the number of gun-related murders in the Federation.
According to the information provided, in 2002 there were five murders, none of which were gun-related. However, in the following year there were 10 murders, two of which were gun-related; in 2004 there were 11 murders in which seven of them were gun-related; while in 2005 there were eight murders, six were gun related; and in 2006, 17 murders, 13 were gun related. Last year saw the commission of 16 murders with 12 of them being committed along the firearm route. See Graph No. 1.
Effectively, 40 (64.52%) of the 62 murders that occurred over the six-year period were gun-related.
Of the 40 gun-related murders that took place in the Federation since 2003, police were successful in solving a mere 35 percent which leaves 65 percent unsolved. In 2003, one (50%) of the two firearm-related murders was solved; in the following year, five (71.42%) of the seven gun-related murders were solved; in 2005, 33.33% or two of the six firearm-related offences were solved; and 23.10% or three of the 13 gun-related murders that occurred in 2006 were solved while in 2007, 25 percent or three of the 12 firearm-related murders were solved.
It should be noted that between 2003 and 2004 gun-related murders shot up by 350 percent from one in the former to five in the latter. In 2005 however, there was a slight decrease [14.29 percent] while there was a 216.67 percent increase in 2006 from six to 13. Last year, a 7.69 percent decrease was realised as the number of firearm-related murders went from 13 to 12. See Graph No. 2.
Just four months into 2008 and the Federation has already recorded five homicides. Eighty percent or four of this year’s murders are gun-related and are yet to be solved.
However, the authorities are making headway in their investigations into the fifth murder for the year - a stabbing murder as the alleged perpetrator turned himself over to the authorities hours after the commission of the offence.
Members of the general public are reminded that they are free to approach any member of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force with information relative to any of these homicides. They are also reminded that they can do so on condition of anonymity.
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