BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN a nationwide address aired on ZIZ Television Station last evening (Nov. 16), Commissioner of Police Ian Queeley debunked statements made by Senator Nigel Carty in which he accused the Police Force of manufacturing success stories in the removal of illegal firearms off the streets of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“The High Command of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force at this time registers its strong disappointment at comments made in the broadcast media by a Federal Parliamentarian, the Honourable Nigel Carty, an Opposition Senator in the Federal Parliament,” Queeley said.
This statement, among others, came in the wake of comments Senator Carty made while a guest on Freedom FM’s programme, ‘Issues’, on Wednesday (Nov. 16).
The Senator spoke of complaints he heard from members of the Police Force against some of their colleagues.
“Recently we heard, for example, of police officers complaining that policemen are themselves planting guns, planting weapons in places and then claiming that they are new find of weapons to give the public the impression that the police and the Government are in some way making headway in relation to the fight on crime.”
He emphatically stated that such actions are being planned, implanted and perpetrated by criminal-minded individuals.
“These are criminal activities and the minds that are behind the planning and implementation and perpetration of these actions are criminal minds. There are criminal minds in the Police Force and there are criminal minds in the Government.
“It is very disheartening to right-thinking citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis that when we think we should be able to trust our police officers, that they are in fact the ones planting some of these weapons and then going and picking them up and claiming that they have had success in taking guns off the street.”
To this end, Commissioner Queeley explained that in the last week the Police Force had been successful in removing a number of illegal firearms from a number of communities, and “rather than support and encourage our officers to continue their vigilance in the fight against crime, a few persons have used the media to question and bring discredit to the validity of these results”.
He debunked Senator Carty’s statements, deeming them untrue, without merit and foundation.
“The remarks made by Senator Carty against the dedicated men and women of the Police Service can only be described as irresponsible, calculated to erode and undermine the herculean efforts of the Police Service to ensure public safety. It is unfortunate that Senator Carty, whose responsibility as a Parliamentarian is to uphold the law and the preservation of the same, would engage in this type of behaviour.”
The Commissioner further stated that it is Senator Carty’s responsibility as citizen and Member of Parliament to report to the police any information or evidence regarding criminal wrong doing by anyone, including the police.
Queeley stated that the continuing efforts to ensure citizen safety in the Federation would not decrease in the face of such unfounded allegations like those levied by Senator Carty and others, adding that “I have spoken to my officers and I have assured them that the nation appreciates their service, sacrifice and continued vigilance to ensure a safe St. Kitts and Nevis”.
The Top Cop called on the citizenry to band with the Police Force to ensure the safety of all and to refrain from those types of vile and unhelpful accusations.
“Citizens and residents, our Police Service is committed, we remain steadfast and focused on our objective of ensuring Citizen Safety. I ask each of you to partner with us. A cohesive effort of police and community will bring the desired results of reduced crime and the fear of crime for all.
“I encourage you, if you see something, say something, and you can do this by calling your neighbourhood or any police station, by speaking with a community leader you trust, such as a pastor, or by calling Crime Stoppers, the anonymous hotline, at 1-800-8477(TIPS).
