BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ONE female is among four persons in custody assisting the police with their investigations into the find of a weapon and a quantity of ammunition on Nevis last Friday afternoon.
Reports reaching this media house state that one .38 Revolver and six matching rounds of ammunition were found on Friday (Nov. 20) in Farms Estate, Nevis, but the Commander of the Nevis Division, Superintendent Samuel Seabrookes, refused to divulge any information. However, Assistant Commissioner Joseph Liburd confirmed the find but noted that providing further information would jeopardise an ongoing investigation.
One of the questions asked by this media house is whether the revolver is one of the three firearms missing from the Gingerland Police Station, but, again, the police were mum.
On the morning of Friday, October 9, 2009, three firearms and a quantity of ammunition were discovered missing from the Gingerland Police Station and the then Police Press and Public Relations Officer, Inspector Cromwell Henry, told SKNVibes that a number of officers were assisting with investigations.
“No stone will be left unturned in the Force’s efforts to recover the missing items and to find out how they disappeared, as well as to bring the perpetrator(s) to justice,” Henry said.
This statement was reiterated by the Head of the Criminal Investigation Department on Nevis, Inspector Hilroy Brandy, who added that “too many firearms are on the streets of the Federation and, with the addition of the three missing firearms, not only will the task of the police increase but also the danger to the general public we are mandated to protect”.
Since then, this media house has learnt from sources close to the Police Force that investigations have led to all officers at the Gingerland Police Station under suspicion. Sources also said that the High Command may seek outside assistance in the employment of polygraph tests, which each suspect would have to undergo.
SKNVibes contacted a number of senior officers to confirm the use of polygraph, but they all declined to do so. However, Assistant Commissioner Liburd neither confirmed nor declined, but stated that every possible avenue opened to the Force would be used in finding the weapons and also those responsible for their removal.
This is not the first time that weapons have gone missing from the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and its personnel.
On August 6, 2003, two M16 Rifles, one .22 Shotgun, one 12 Gauge Shotgun, 60 rounds of 5.62mm ammunition and 18 rounds of 9mm ammunition were stolen from a Task Force vehicle (PA 2393) parked at the Charlestown Police Station in Nevis. Two of those weapons were subsequently recovered.
In St. Kitts, a number of firearms also went missing.
One firearm was stolen from the Old Road Police Station and some years later a man was found with it at the Basseterre Ferry Terminal. While performing duties at a night club in Canada Estate, a 9mm Pistol was stolen from a male Constable. Another 9mm Pistol was also stolen from another male Constable, while a .38 Revolver was stolen from a female Constable who was performing duties at the Governor-General’s residence, and a Glock Pistol was stolen from the Traffic Department. To date, none of those firearms was recovered.
