Wednesday, 22 November, 2023 -- The double murder incident in St. Peter’s, St. Kitts today has shaken up the community and left many in our Nation afraid and in despair. Our nationals at home and abroad are in shock at the rising surge of murders in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. I share the horror, pain and despair of the families who have lost loved ones and I extend sincerest sympathies to all – and especially to the families of the two murder victims.
The loss of one life is one too many. To have lost so many young persons so consistently, in the prime of their lives, should cause us all to examine ourselves, our government and Country, and commit to doing all we can to contain these egregious acts of human destruction in our midst. We must question too, whether this government is doing enough to address the crime crisis in the Country. Clearly, the protracted and deafening silence of Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew has been a major source of concern for our citizens and residents. This situation cannot continue.
The most fundamental duty of the government is to keep its people safe and secure. During my tenure, we made safety and security the priority. In this regard, we raised the budgetary support to the Ministry of National Security to close to $100 million; expanded the CCTV programme throughout St. Kitts and Nevis; and introduced innovations like the Alternative Lifestyle Programme better known as the PEACE Programme and the Explorers Club, all of which led to a most significant reduction in murders in St. Kitts and Nevis. St. Kitts and Nevis in 15 months of this present administration is now again the murder capital of the world. This is an unenviable form of notoriety for any country. For the people of St. Kitts and Nevis it is an international embarrassment. The total number of murders for this year alone is 28, in a population of less than 50,000. This is not what I wish for my beloved Country.
Our people should not have to go back to a state of crippling fear, insecurity, worry and anxiety over the level of criminality with which we are forced to live.
I call upon the Dr Terrance Drew-led administration to immediately address the crime situation in the Country by doing the following with urgency:
- to articulate a clear crime reduction policy going forward;
- to recommit to the PEACE and Explorers Club Programmes;
- to find competent persons to lead the various directorates in the Police Force;
- to end victimization in the security forces;
- to provide resources to deal with (i) low morale in the Police Force; and (ii) operational needs;
- to stop stifling public discussion on matters of National Security; and
- to produce a more coherent action plan to enhance security and safety, not just for his Cabinet colleagues but for every citizen and resident.
This Drew administration has fallen short of its fundamental duty to keep our Nation and people safe. Today’s double murder tragedy is a wake-up call. I therefore call on the St. Kitts Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Bar Association, the church community and other civil society organisations to join me in this urgent call for government to implement these substantive measures that will return our Country to a state of peace and security.
Let us extend sympathies to the grieving families and pray for an end to this upsurge in violent criminality in our Land.
Dr. the Hon Timothy Harris
PEOPLES LABOUR PARTY SECRETARIAT
November 22, 2023
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