BASSETERRE St. Kitts, November 6th 2011 - The EU provided EURO 5.7 million (US$7.12 million) to St. Kitts and Nevis last year, earmarked towards a Safety and Security Programme, the aim of which was to construct a new prison for those on remand, psychiatric prisoners and repeat offenders; and to renovate a number of police stations and coast guard facilities and upgrade the fleet of the Ministry of National Security.
The confirmation was made by the European Union and published by the ‘CMC”. That 7.12 million USD or $19.25 million ECD was described as grant funds, yet the Government would have you believe that as a result of our graduation status, St. Kitts and Nevis cannot qualify for grant aid.
A look around the country will reveal that to date there is no construction of any prison facilities in any of the two islands; there is no psychiatric prison any where; none to accommodate repeat offenders; no renovation taking place at any police stations. So where has the nineteen million dollar grant been pastured?
If you have been to some of these police stations recently you will note that the dilapidated condition of those police stations make it difficult for the police to carry out their tasks in safety and without disruption especially if it rains.
Our prisons are so overcrowded that in their present condition they have become a breeding ground for gang membership and a culture of crime.
The prison in St. Kitts has been designed to house 60 prisoners, yet, each year the prison population continue to grow and grow without any response from the Government in providing additional facilities, creating unprecedented levels of overcrowding.
Some cells in the Basseterre prison are so overcrowded that they are presently housing up to 17 prisoners in one cell. The fact is that a youngster who has to be remanded would find himself in the same community of the hardened criminals and would automatically be recruited by gang members within the walls of that prison for their own protection within the compound. Soon they are released much more hardened than they entered and with orders issued by hardened criminals still behind bars, to carry out crimes in society. Then we wonder what is wrong with our young people and why they are gravitating to a culture of crime not realising that societal systems are contributing to that culture because of the failure of Government. When this cannot be recognised by the Government, the perpetuation of a failed system will continue to do harm to our youth and much greater harm to the society.
After the assizes of 2010 there were over 250 prisoners in that prison making the conditions very unhealthy and the prisoners susceptible to diseases among other things. So what has the Government done with the grant aid of 19.2 million given by the EU when our Nation stands 3rd in the world in persons in jail per hundred thousand?
Government’s finances are in such tatters that one has to speculate that perhaps the funds have gone into current expenditure never to be seen again.
This may explain the limitations of the Coast Guard vessels; the lack of new or repaired facilities housing the security forces; the absence of a psychiatric wing of the prison or special zones for repeat offenders.
Although we thank the European Union for its generosity and encourage further grants to aid our nation, we see no real physical evidence of the use of the resources towards the stated objectives. We therefore call on the Government to explain.
*************************
DISCLAIMER
This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKNVibes.com. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of SKNVibes.com, its sponsors or advertisers
