CIC calls for strengthened partnerships in combating crime
By VonDez Phipps
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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Mark Wilkin, President CIC
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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – “ENOUGH is enough” was the consensus aired by the representatives of the private sector in relation to the scourge of crime that has been plaguing the nation in recent times.
The forum, organized by St. Kitts-Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CIC), was held at the institution’s conference room on Friday, October 3 and served as an all-inclusive approach to tackling the “frustrating situation”.
CIC President, Mark Wilkin made it clear in his address that the Chamber is dismayed by the continued escalation of violent crime. He added that with 17 homicides and countless gun-related crimes so far this year, the country’s relatively high per capita crime rate needs to be urgently addressed.
“On August 14, at the National Budget Consultations, I noted that everything we were here to discuss will become totally fruitless and useless if we allow the crime situation on our shores to escalate to unmanageable proportions. I feel we are fast approaching this situation, which is unacceptable.
“These calls for action are not new. As far back as 1994 this Chamber convened a forum for national unity from which emanated the Four Season’s Accord. The issues of crime involving guns, the question of adequacy and resources for the police and its crime-fighting capacity were all noted as needing action. The same cry became louder in 2005 when we stated further that it was time to take our community and country back from all criminal elements. The time must be now, we can wait no longer!”
Wilkin stressed that the private sector is prepared to prioritise and put whatever resources are necessary forward to deal with the problem in a meaningful way and urged the government to do the same. He noted that a simple high-profile incident could easily leave a disastrous impact on the economy and in particular, the tourism industry and opined that “the general tolerance and indifference for lawlessness in our society has led to the escalation in crime”. ~~Adz:Right~~
Past president Franklin Brand re-emphasized the need for an unbiased approach in the partnership of the public and private sectors and highlighted that crime is a problem that affects all.
“We have reached out, but the partnership that needs to occur between the public and private sectors has not taken place, and it’s not for the lack of trying. Many of us in leadership, within the Chamber, have become frustrated over time, where every attempt to reach out to solve serious problems is being sidetracked into political partisanship and this is nonsense. We are entering the 21st century; we are a 25-year-old nation. We are supposed to have the maturity and the capacity to deal with these problems in a meaningful manner.
“People’s lives are at stake here, and we must begin on both sides to grapple with these problems in a meaningful way... The leadership that is required to take this country forward is right there in the private sector, and government needs to tap into it. We have been offering it and no one is taking us seriously.”
The CIC head proposed a three-pronged approach - prevention; containment and protection; and rehabilitation and punishment, be implemented.
Wilkin applauded the St. Kitts National Youth Parliament Association (SKNYPA) for organizing a symposium on youth crime on September 24 and encouraged others to be a part of addressing the “most important challenge of the nation at this time”.
Subsequent to the conference, members of the CIC met with Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas to “review strategies and set measurable targets and objectives to address this issue of unacceptable level of crime in St. Kitts and Nevis”.
