BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PRIME MINISTER of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris has issued a very strong warning to criminal in the Federation, informing them that his Government would adopt a zero tolerance policy against crime.
Speaking from neighbouring island Antigua, Dr. Harris’ statement comes in the wake of last night’s (Mar. 2) killing of a young man in St. Paul’s, the second shooting-death to have occurred in that village in less than a week.
“The number one priority of this new Team Unity Government is the safety of our people and the security of our beloved nation. Let there be no mistake about that! My Administration will, at all times, have a zero tolerance policy towards crime, period,” Dr. Harris said.
He stressed that crime is a destabilising factor in the country’s development and that criminals would not be comforted by his Administration.
“Crime helps no one and it harms everyone. Among other things, crime destabilises neighbourhoods, it hurts our families and communities, it erodes our attractiveness of a place where people invest and create jobs, and it damages our reputation as a beautiful country of kind, friendly and warm people. Crime will also hurt the criminals, because under my Administration they will find no comfort. We will be strong! We will be resolute and relentless in our effort to fight crime.”
The newly-elected Prime Minister exhorted the nation to have faith in God during this grossly immoral period in the Federation and not to allow criminals to intimidate them.
“It is during these times that we first must depend on our deep and abiding faith in the omnipresent, omnipotent God to carry us through the sudden vicious storms of life. It is also at times like these when we as a people, we as a nation must strengthen our resolve to never allow a misguided, selfish few amongst us to intimidate our people and terrorise our neighbourhoods.”
He said he wanted the perpetrators of those cold and cowardly acts to know that the long arm of the law would eventually catch up with them.
“Let me declare as the Prime Minister of this beautiful country, just for that the criminals would know that we expect the law agents to find them wherever they are and that they will be prosecuted and be taken off of our streets. These streets do not belong to the criminals; they belong to the law-abiding citizens and residents of this our blessed Federation,” he added.
He continued: “Our people, this country will not be defined by a miniscule deviant group of people that neither attributes value nor shows respect for human life. This Government will implement immediate enhanced preventive security measures to ensure the safety and security of our Federation. This is of utmost importance!”
The Prime Minister informed that the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force would be provided the necessary resources to fight crime and to bring criminals to justice, adding that “the criminal elements in this country must know that they will have no safe haven here. It is a new day”!
Dr. Harris opined that the nation deserves to live in safety and declared that the Government would be addressing the fear that witnesses have in not giving evidence in court against gangsters.
“Our people deserve to live in safe and secure neighbourhoods. Our people deserve better and we must give them better. Crime will not be tolerated in St. Kitts and Nevis. My Administration will also provide increase for prosecutorial support and address the tight-lipped, no-snitching culture that has crept into our society as a result of gangsters first choosing to exact their own system of justice against each other and against innocent citizens who live in fear of reprisals from gangsters for giving evidence in criminal matters.”
He said, too, that his Government would be increasing emphasis on the Crime Stoppers initiative and consult further with the OECS Supreme Court in the creation of a special court to address cases of violent crime, guns and drug trafficking.
He also offered advice to the young men who are engaged in killing each other.
“To the young men who are committing these crimes, I say to you that there is a better way, a better life path that you can choose. We all have choices but choices, of course, have consequences. I say to you the most youthful among us who make up the largest percentage of our prison population, you who chose to take life, that you did not give life and so it is not yours to take.
“Instead, you must find your life; you must find other means to settle your dispute. If you are involved or about getting involved in that activity, in criminal pursuits, I say to you now, stop, think again, St. Kitts and Nevis is yours, there are opportunities available here for you to steer on a different path.”
Dr. Harris reiterated his Government’s commitment to everyone having a fair share of the nation’s prosperity and further advised the young delinquents to replace their frustration and anger with peace, love and hope.
He told them that they have a fundamental right to life, to liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and that his Government would protect their fundamental right, but it would also protect the right of others.
“What we will not do, is allow anyone with criminal intent to rip asunder that which binds us together as a people. We will give you opportunity, but we will not allow you to steal the soul of this our beautiful. That will not happen under my Administration!” he added.
Prime Minister Harris, on behalf of the nation, offered condolences to the family of Jason ‘Bobo’ Francis, the young man who was killed last night, and to all the families who had experience loss due to senseless violence in the country.
