BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - PRIME MINISTER Dr. Terrance Drew has pledged his Government’s commitment to ensure the streets of the Federation remain safe, as the issue of bloodshed continued last month.
Dr. Drew’s comments come against the backdrop of public outcry over his Government’s silence on the recent homicides and gun violence that started back in December when a young man was stabbed to death during J’Ouvert Day activities.
The National Security Minister, during a press briefing with selected media houses, pledged that his Government would work to do all in its power to combat the problem that left four dead in just over one month.
“As a citizen and father, I am truly disheartened by the recent acts of violence in and around the Capital, Basseterre. I want persons to be rest assured that your Government is working strategically to quell this violence for the safeguard of all - because a life loss is a special life loss,” Dr. Drew said.
He continued: “And so, I appeal to the public to know that we are doing what we have to do to make sure that we are safe.”
After what was described by many in the public’s domain as a period of quietude last year, a slew of violence rocked the Federation, especially those on St. Kitts, beginning with 21-year-old Javel Alford death. Police reported that the young man was stabbed to death during J’Ouvert activities on December 26.
That was reportedly followed by another incident on Port Zante, where an individual was reportedly injured and hospitalized. Shortly thereafter, Carnival representatives announced that an individual was hospitalized nursing injuries.
On January 11, 26-year-old Javon Grant of Maddens Estate, Nevis, was shot multiple times in the vicinity of a bar in Bath Village. Then on January 27, Morne Heights, Bird Rock resident 29-year-old Dequan Maloney was shot and killed before being stuffed in the trunk of the vehicle in the area.
Those were followed by a series of shooting incidents in both day and night that did not result in injuries to anyone.
On February 1, 30-year-old Sylvester Crossley of McKnight, but who resided at Half Way Tree, was killed in a brazen incident at an establishment in the Basseterre area.
A recent press release from the St. Kitts-Nevis Information Service revealed that the Prime Minister held a meeting with the High Command of the Police Force and the National Security Advisor in the Ministry of National Security to discuss safety and security in the Federation.
At this time, no word has been forthcoming on whether any strategic changes will be implemented to combat the uptick in gun violence in the Federation.
