Basseterre, St. Kitts – A former government minister in Antigua and Barbuda, Harold Lovell, has posited that it is time to build awareness within communities and to make use of the latest technologies to deal with the growing crime problem facing the region.
Lovell’s comment came against the backdrop of St. Kitts and Nevis recording seven homicides for 2019 – six within one week, which include three occurring in a matter of 17 hours.
Speaking on WINN FM, last Friday morning (Feb. 15), the United Progressive Party (UPP) member said the problem of crime is affecting the entire region.
He pointed specifically to the Bahamas, the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago as well as St. Kitts and Nevis as having similar problems and noted that Antigua and Barbuda is also affected.
“It is a matter that concerns all of us,” he stated. “St. Kitts is only a stone’s throw away from Antigua.”
Lovell suggests that it is time for leaders to get a handle on the problem which is very “troubling”, alluding to the use of modern technology to deal with the scourge of gun crimes.
“It is very, very troubling and I am one who certainly believes that we must get a handle on this. And I feel that we must use technology and we should approach it from a regional standpoint. If it is that we need to source the best technology that is available; we need to get the best advice that is available, again at the region level.”
Despite acknowledging that there needs to be a regional fight against crime and violence, Lovell noted that more importantly “we need to get the citizens, the people of the region involved, because crime is everybody’s business”.
In St. Kitts and Nevis, the Government has stepped up its effort to deal with the problem.
In a national address condemning the spate of homicides, Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris outline some of the measure to be implemented.
According to PM Harris, Cabinet had approved the following recommendations from the Police High Command:
“(1) The training programme at the Police Training School be temporarily suspended, allowing the Recruits, Inspectors, Corporals and other officers attached thereto to be reassigned to areas most in need of manpower support;
(2) Professional advice and support from abroad be sought as and when necessary by the High Command;
(3) Increased special operations to be commenced immediately. These would include: enhanced stop and searches, targeted raids, cordon and search operations and deployment of technological assets;
(4) Community Outreach Programmes and the build-out of our Explorer Programmes continue apace;
(5) The Attorney General will determine what additional legislative responses can be effected in the very near future to give greater support to law enforcement agencies in their fight against crime; and
(6) The Police High Command releases the names and photos of several persons of interest to them, and we encourage those with knowledge of the whereabouts of these persons to inform the police soonest.”
Dr. Harris said criminals must never find comfort or protection anywhere in St. Kitts and Nevis.
He called on everyone from families to the churches, businesses and political parties to stand firmly with the security forces as they work to make us safe and prevent further loss of life and injury to persons and property.
