BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE High Command is reassuring members of the public that the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Force (RSCNPF) has safety and security as its top priority following the launch of its Operation Reassurance to tackle the recent surge in homicides and other criminal activities.
Since the start of the year, the RSCNPF and the Government have been coming in for heavy criticisms for their silence on and seemingly inability to put a lid on the problem.
Just recently the Force held a press conference to reassure the public that they are working to combat the problem, with Commissioner of Police James Sutton stating that he would implement his seven-point plan to deal with the problem.
In a media statement following yesterday's (Apr. 4) incidents that left two men dead, the Police Force reassured residents that their safety is of “utmost importance” to them.
“It is with great concern that we address the recent upsurge in gun violence that has resulted in the tragic loss of lives. The safety and well-being of our residents are of utmost importance, and we are taking all necessary measures to address this situation,” the statement read.
The RSCNPF, in collaboration with other national security agencies, “launched a full-scale extended special operation, named Operation Re-assurance, to contain and suppress the violence.
This operation is designed to specifically target those who are perpetrating those heinous acts and to bring them to justice. It will be multi-dimensional and jointly executed by the security forces to achieve their objectives.”
In reassuring the public, the RSCNPF said it is “committed to creating a safe and secure environment for all residents”, adding: “We urge anyone with information about the violence to come forward and report it to the police. Your cooperation is vital in ensuring that we put an end to this scourge.”
But just as the Force is calling for people to report when they see incidents of crimes, the community has lost some level of trust in the law enforcement agency, but Commissioner Sutton is working to rebuild the trust, as Community Policing is one of the pillars of his crime fighting strategy.
“We also appeal to residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police. We understand that these incidents can cause fear and anxiety in our community, and we want to assure you that we are doing everything in our power to ensure your safety.
“As a country, we must stand together in the fight against crime and violence. We ask for your patience and understanding during this time, as we work to make our community a safer place for all,” the statement read.
Combating the problem of crime and violence is not a simple matter, but in recent months there appeared to be an uptick in crime. But a collective approach is needed at this point from those within the community.
The Federation has recorded nine homicides for the year, and that is alarming following a period where homicides were a thing of the past.
