BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A prominent Attorney-at-Law, Charles Wilkin QC, warned that the Federation would lose all its social, economic and political gains of the past 42 years if there is no reduction in violent crime and disorder.
At the time of the warning, Wilkin was addressing members and officials of the Royal St. Christopher-Nevis Police Force during the Police Awards Dinner at the Royal St. Kitts Hotel and Casino on Friday, June 20.
Over the past few years, the force has struggled to contain a growing crime epidemic. In 2008, the Federation recorded an unprecedented 23 murders and so far in 2009, 13 murders have been committed before the year’s halfway mark.
The lawyer blamed the upsurge in crime on three factors: poor parenting, poor attitudes and the existing political culture. He expounded briefly on the first two, but the QC devoted the majority of his speech to lambasting the current practice of politics within St. Kitts and Nevis, which he said had created a state of political tribalism and divisiveness.
“The practice of our politics is unnecessarily hostile. As a consequence of the pervasive activity of government, there has developed an overreliance which has been fostered and played on by politicians for political gain.
“Consequently, the stakes in politics have become high. The syndrome is that if my party is not in power I cannot progress, therefore my party must retain or gain power at all costs...and I must hate and demonise supporters of the other party who want to gain power and prevent my progress. Meanwhile, opposition supporters say that everything government does is bad and the country is dying,” he said.
Wilkin also pointed to the Federal Constitution, calling it a flawed document which makeup was in serious need of revision. He highlighted two areas in pressing need of amendment – the sections dealing with the Constituency Boundaries Commission and the Police Service Commission.
“The first is the Constituency Boundaries Commission which should function at least every five years but which is only now at work for the second time in 25 years. How can you, in this fiercely divided country, expect not to have controversy in this process when you create a Boundaries Commission consisting mainly of elected politicians? That is like giving candy to a child and not expecting the child to eat the candy.
“The second is the Police Service Commission. It was a copout to simply give the Public Service Commission the authority over the force,” he asserted.
Calling it “essential” for the force’s greater autonomy from the political directorate, Wilkin stressed that there should be a separate Police Service Commission, which the Commissioner of Police would report to on all matters except those affecting state security.
