CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – A clarion is being made by the Head of the Nevis Division of the Federation’s Police Force, Superintendent Hilroy Brandy, for citizens and residents of Nevis to assist the police in the solvability of a number of crimes including homicides on the 36-square-mile island.
A police communiqué issued this afternoon (Sept. 9) stated the matters, which are of grave concern, include the murders banker Everette Hanley, Albert Myers, Huelo Pableto Hanley Cornelius and a number of others, the shooting of Rolston Jeffers as well as a number of robberies and break-ins.
“All efforts are being made to solve these crimes, bring justice and give closure to the families. But the police cannot do it alone, members of the community have to get involved. The involvement of the community is critical, people may have seen or heard something and it is your civic duty and responsibility to get involved,” Brandy said.
Brandy informed that the Nevis Division had doubled its efforts and resources in the investigation of those crimes.
He also informed that the Division is currently being assisted by three-member team of British advisors who are in the Federation to give of their expertise and experience to the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force.
“This initiative is certainly welcomed and the officers are very enthusiastic of the presence and assistance provided by the British experts. Apart from myself and the officers under my command, the Hon. Premier and the Nevis Island Administration are pleased with the presence and assistance of the British experts, he said.”
The communiqué noted that a number of concerned business persons on the island have put together a reward of EC$15 000 to encourage citizens to share any information they have about those crimes, so that the perpetrators could be arrested and prosecuted.
Superintendent Brandy stressed, “If you see, hear or know something regarding any of these ongoing cases or any criminal activity, say something. Contact your nearest police station or use the anonymous tip line, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 (TIPS)’ to report any criminal activity.”.
Brandy, on behalf of the Police Force, thanked all those who had assisted and continue to assist the police in their investigations and providing various items of equipment to enhance their capability.
However, a commentary sent to this media house by one Hastings for publication, headlined “Of Crime, Community, Criminals and Crime Stoppers”, is calling on members of the High Command and a number of other Senior Officers to tender their resignation.
“My recommendation is that the top fifteen (15) policemen resign and their resignation be accepted. If they do not resign as honourable men they be asked to leave. In the public interest we are people of humanity and humility. We therefore propose that these top 15 be given full pension and gratuity be accorded them.
“They should lose not an iota of benefit and they should go happily in the sunset knowing that they have tried their best. We do believe that the remaining force will hygienise and revitalise itself and regain the trust of the community. We have some recommendation for the community which will be forthcoming but for now we are asking for a Fresh Start with the decent sending off of the top brass of the police. We are seeking for a new police force that the public can mutual trust with,” the writer said.
The writer of the commentary stated that the people in the Federation as a whole and those in Nevis in particular have been comatosed by the rampant killing of some of their beloved citizens in their own homes without even a scintilla of identification and arrest of the perpetrators.
“The police whom we have engaged and employed to keep us safe have become irrelevant in the face of this violent onslaught. The police have become irrelevant because the community either feels that the police will betray their trust or will and can do nothing to bring criminals to justice. The guards have abandoned their posts and where they are posted nobody notices them and criminals act with impunity,” the writer added.
In a change of direction in his comments, the writer proclaimed that the community is and has always been an ultra-secretive one. “Nobody talks on Nevis. Nobody wants to be their brother’s keeper. We harbour and assist criminals in their long night of bastardly and dastardly actions.”
