BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, May 21, 2010 (Labour Secretariat) - The recent finding of 24 firearms and over 900 rounds of ammunition by the Security Forces is a big step in the fight against crime, in particular, gun crime.
It underscores that the Security Forces continue to be relentless in their pursuit of national security, ridding the streets of these deadly weapons.
They are to be commended.
But, equally to be commended are the many persons who are collaborating with the Security Forces in providing the intelligence needed to carry out the assault on crime.
More persons are encouraged to collaborate with the Security Forces.
The fight, however, is far from over and efforts must not be relaxed.
“I want to commend the police force in general for the work they continue to do in working to improve their professionalism, image and strategies,” Minister of National Security, Hon. Sam Condor said.
“I want to say how pleased I am with the progress we are making. I don’t want to become too overconfident…I know we still have a long way to go,” he added.
All of us, who love our beloved country, want to see a society where we are not held prisoners of fear by criminals. We want our country to progress economically and socially and to enjoy a good image at home and abroad.
The implementation of community policing is an important one that can build trust between communities and the police. This aspect of policing is extremely important in people gaining confidence in the police and the police gaining confidence in the people. This trust must never be betrayed but enhanced.
With increased mobile patrols, increased surveillance and vigilance and the employment of the canine unit, the police will continue to yield more good results.
Those who work at our air and sea ports in the Department of Customs and Excise must continue to collaborate with the police. They must be people of the highest integrity, who hold national security as the highest priority of the government.
But it cannot be underscored enough that all of us must get involved in the fight against the cancer of crime. We must try to positively influence our own little corner.
Parents must continue to discipline and educate their children in good values and morals as well as take an active interest in their lives; teachers must not give up on their troublesome students; adults must show good example to younger ones.
As the year progresses, we appeal to those who are hell bent in taking revenge on each other to find positive ways of dealing with their conflict; we appeal to the criminals to abandon a life of crime and to lead productive lives with the assistance of others.
And we continue to encourage the increased collaboration between the Security Forces and the community. We continue to wish the Security Forces well in their efforts to fight crime and to make our country a better one for all of us to live in.
