PM reaches out to overseas-based nationals
Outlines Three-Pronged Crime Strategy
By Melissa Bryant
Reporter~SKNVibes.com
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Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas
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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN the first of a series of bi-weekly reports to Kittitians and Nevisians in the Diaspora, Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas stressed the importance of banding together within families and communities to stand as one people in the face of challenging circumstances.
In the address, which can be viewed on the popular Internet website YouTube, the country’s leader reassured nationals abroad that the government is pursuing an “aggressive”, three-pronged strategy to combat the issue of crime and specifically gang violence.
“Firstly, we have joined forces with international law enforcement agencies like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Regional Security Services to deliver a broad spectrum assault against the gangs,” Douglas said.
He pointed to the National Consultation on Crime that was held in December last year, in which representatives from civil society, the media, youth, politics, the law, entertainment, teaching and medical professions met to discuss recommendations to combat crime and violence, as the second component of the plan.
Calling crime a “societal problem demanding societal-wide action”, Douglas said, “I made it absolutely clear that every individual, every family unit and organisation within our country is going to have to do something different from this point forward or embrace some kind of action, no matter how small, to help shatter the appeal of gang culture to susceptible children.”
The Prime Minister identified intensified collaboration between the “Top Brass” of the Police Force, Defence Force, Coast Guard and Customs Department as the final part of the plan, stating his order to them that “criminals be confronted as if we are in a state of war”.
He expressed confidence in the ability of the nation’s security forces and criminal justice system to bring existing criminals to justice and called on the citizens of the Federation, including those residing overseas, to do whatever they could to prevent the constant creation of new criminals.
Douglas noted the important role to be played by Kittitians and Nevisians in the Diaspora and beseeched them to join with the government in the crime reduction efforts. ~~Adz:Right~~
