BASSETERE, St. Kitts – Opposition members in the Federal Parliament have taken umbrage with comments made by Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil Douglas implying they have politicized crime in the Federation.
On April 13, while speaking on his radio programme “Ask the PM” Douglas expressed his hope that the continual politicization of crime by the Opposition is not a “sinister attempt to be the call for political responses from people as retaliation and thus bring this kind of criminal activity into political realms.
“In other words, I hope that this constant harping on government and government officials being responsible and not doing enough is not a call by irresponsible persons in the Opposition for retaliation on government officials regarding the issue of crime. I hope it is not [an] attempt to bring political killings into St. Kitts and Nevis because that must be stopped and rejected in every way.”
Member of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition and Parliamentary Representative for Constituency Number Five, the Honourable Shawn K. Richards speaking exclusively with SKNVibes described the PM’s comments as “silly”, “petty” and a waste of time and energy that could be elsewhere channeled.
“The Prime Minister needs to stop finding all sorts of stupid excuses and to confront the issue of crime with a view towards decreasing it. To blame the Opposition or to imply that the Opposition is part of some sinister attempt to involve persons in crime is silly and petty.
“As a matter of fact, rather than making those statements what he ought to do is use the resources of Government to investigate the crimes which are taking place in this country and bring the perpetrators to justice. In doing so, if any Opposition person is involved, I am certain that information will come to the fore. And knowing the Prime Minister, he will not waste any time in trying to embarrass Opposition members for being involved.
MP Richards challenged the PM to use Government resources to make the necessary investigation and bring the perpetrators, regardless of who they are, to justice.
“Whoever it is, let the PM use the resources to do the necessary work and bring the perpetrators of the crime to justice, regardless of who they are. After doing such…if there is any evidence implicating any Opposition member then he should bring those persons to justice too rather than making silly statements which would not deal with the situation.”
In emphatic denial of the Opposition’s involvement in “fueling the crime situation in this country”, Richards suggested that the Prime Minister, through “his irresponsible statements and lack of political will to deal with the crime situation…is helping it to increase”.
“I can categorically say that the Opposition members are not involved in any plot or any attempt,” the Constituency Number Five representative said.
