PM Douglas expresses outrage at loss of lives!!
Announces penalty increases on serious crimes…
By Stanford Conway
Editor-in-Chief-SKNVibes.com
~~Adz:Left~~BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PRIME MINISTER [PM] of St. Kitts and Nevis Dr. Denzil Douglas expressed outrage at the recent loss of lives by criminal activities in the twin-island Federation and declared that the law enforcement agencies would continue their operations of taking dangerous weapons off the streets.
“I personally today want to join with my fellow citizens, especially those families who are grieving; I want to join with my own Cabinet colleagues and with the law enforcement agencies of this country and continue to express our outrage at the continued loss of lives through criminal activity in this our beautiful and peaceful country.
These sentiments were made in the wake of the recent killing of eight men over a three and a half month period by firearm, a blunt object and a sharpened object, such as knife.
The PM was at the time addressing media practitioners at his Monthly Press Conference held in the Parliamentary Lounge yesterday [April 22].
Dr. Douglas declared that despite the challenges, his government has been continuing in its quest to reduce the incidents of criminal activity in the Federation.
He noted that the law enforcement agencies will continue to stop and search vehicles and individuals on the streets: “They will continue to execute the necessary search warrants on homes, and they will continue, I believe, to have the normal success in taking a number of weapons, guns, ammunition, knives and other dangerous objects off the streets.”
Dr. Douglas pointed out that the security forces had reported the confiscation of a quantity of illegal drugs seized from off the streets and several criminal charges were brought against the perpetrators, and a number of them were successfully prosecuted.
He informed that during a Sitting in Parliament last month, Legislative support was provided for the imposition of longer prison sentences for persons found guilty and convicted of attempted murder, shooting, wounding and inflicting grievous bodily harm on other persons.
“We increased from 10 to 25 years, the sentence which may be imposed on any person who is convicted of attempted murder by administering any type of poison or other destructive methods, or by any means whatsoever, wounding or causing bodily harm with intent to commit murder.
“We have also increased, as a Parliament of this country, from 10 to 20 years, the sentence which may be imposed on any person convicted of shooting or attempting to shoot, or wounding with intent to maim, disfigure or disable any person, or to do some other grievous bodily harm to any person or with intent to prevent the lawful apprehension or detention of any person; and increased from two to seven years, the sentence of any person who is convicted of inflicting bodily harm with or without a weapon,” Dr. Douglas announced.
The PM emphasised that the government and the law enforcement agencies could not successfully fight crime alone, and called on “our parents, our guardians, our grandparents, all of our family members, our friends, our neighbours, the churches and the non-governmental agencies as well as political parties to help in this particular endeavour”.
He noted that while aware of similar occurrences in the region and further afield, the Federation has to find ways of confronting this problem which is bound to socially, economically and financially impact the daily lives of residents.
Dr. Douglas also gave an overview of the recently concluded Ninth Meeting of the CARICOM Standing Committees of Commissioners of Police and Military Chiefs held at the Marriott Resort.
He said the objective of the meeting was to consider the decisions taken at the 13th Special Meeting of the CARICOM Heads of Government Conference which focused on crime and security.
Dr. Douglas noted, among other things, discussions were held on the continued efforts on the development of a regional crime and security strategy, the implementation of what is called “the Regional Investigation Management System and the Regional Integrated Ballistics Information Network”.
He added that other issues addressed included increased capability and coordination among law enforcement agencies, use of available technology in the detection, deterrence and seizure of illegal drugs, crime scene management, the use of DNA, the establishment of counter kidnapping units, training of personnel in homicide and gang investigation, and a regional protection programme.
