Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 06, 2015 (SKNIS): Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, has welcomed ideas from the general public in relation to challenges affecting the Federation, specifically crime fighting, during his monthly press conference on Tuesday, November 03, 2015.
In response to a question asked with regards to amnesty, Prime Minister Harris explained that where crime is concerned, his Government does not have the Solomon’s wisdom and as such the High Command was directed to go out and engage the rest of the civil society to get ideas with respect to the Six-Point Plan.
“ACP Henderson is here and he would say that they would have gone to the Chamber,” he said. “They went to many groups, they have had town hall meetings and they have been in discussion. There is another town hall meeting planned for Basseterre, so we have not closed the book on any of the ideas and even a broadening of that plan.”
Prime Minister Harris expressed sadness with regard to homicides in the Federation, but also stated that if the plan is given time to work his Government will achieve the overall objective of curbing the crime situation.
“You’ve made the point that the police have done pretty well, with respect to the confiscation of the illegal fire arms,” Prime Minister Harris said, while noting that already there are about 50% of firearms that were retrieved compared to last year, and due to this, that aspect of the plan is working.
Dr. Harris said as more guns are removed from the streets, more incidents are reduced. He added that the Government is making an appeal because much of the homicides are gun related to international partners, some of whom have different philosophy in relation to gun ownership.
“The guns are not made here and we are saying that we need to have a discussion with USA, the British Government and with all those people who are in the production of guns because the guns produced elsewhere are entering into our jurisdiction and they need to help us in curbing that influx of firearms into our country and providing additional support,” he said. “They are putting a considerable burden on our limited resources and capacity to police, and that is a matter that has come up in the regional forum in relation to corporation on this matter.”
Prime Minister Harris noted that the authorities are working diligently and persons must be mindful that this is a matter of high concerns while stressing that the 2016 budget will reflect an equal share of resources especially as it relates to crime.
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