BASSETERRE, St. KITTS - AS the Federation continues to see gun and other forms of crime occurring on its streets, Prime Minister Dr. Hon. Timothy Harris has called parents out for allowing their children to continue with such activities.
Just last evening (Aug. 11), three persons including a gunman were hospitalized after he opened fire in the Cayon community striking two individuals.
Speaking at the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis’ town hall meeting, held last evening in Sandy Point, Dr. Harris appealed to parents and guardians in Sandy Point and the wider St. Kitts and Nevis, to crack down on those of their children who engage in such activities.
He asserted that the time had come for parents to stop “harbouring wrong” in their homes, admonishing that “you must stop it”.
“Some of you have children and relatives in your houses and they have guns; you better call the police. Some of you know where they are hiding their ammunitions, I advise you to call the police.”
St. Kitts and Nevis has to date recorded a total of 24 homicides.
The Team Unity Government, for the last few months, have received heavy criticism for their handling of the crime situation, since they confessed during the run-up to the 2015 General Elections that they have the ‘solutions’ to the problem.
The St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party and the general public have been wary of their continued silence on the matter.
Just recently, Opposition leader Dr. the Hon. Denzil Douglas has made a number of calls for the Government to hold a summit involving the key stakeholders in the Federation to chart a way forward.
Dr. Harris and Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Shawn Richards – who is the Parliamentary Representative for Constituency Number Five - tackled the topic head-on at the town hall meeting.
He pointed out that St. Kitts and Nevis would never become a society overrun by lawlessness and before that takes place, laws would be implemented to guard against it.
In a directive, the police was reminded by the Prime Minister that the law must be placed over lawlessness at all times.
Dr. Harris urged youths to put down the guns, get a job and put in the hours for an honest day’s pay.
“If you want land, go to the member (Minister with responsibility for Lands, the Hon. Eugene Hamilton) and he would look after.”
Agriculture is being seen as one way that persons can become entrepreneurs, while assisting the Federation with its food security.
