BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, June 7, 2010 (PAM Public Relations Office Press Release) - The month of May seemed to be the lucky one. There were several shootings each week but it appeared that this country was going to have its first murder free month in a few years. Sadly, it was not to be. Less than two hours before this month ended Sylvester Lee lost his life in a hail of bullets. I was shocked and saddened as I saw photos of his lifeless body in the doorway of a shop. Another young man, the greatest resource of our country had been lost in a senseless and cold blooded murder.
My sadness turned to anger when I heard the news reports of the response of our law enforcement. Police officers arrived at the scene without light, without gloves, without even the tape to cordon off the horrific crime scene. An officer used his phone as a light source.
What kind of investigation can the public expect from such shoddy and unprofessional work? It raises serious questions when we see just how ill equipped our police officers are for the daunting task that they face.
This epidemic of violent crime has been with us for several years yet our police officers still appear to lack very basic training in treating crime scenes in a scientific and professional manner. How much of the pathetically low detection rate is caused by the fact that the evidence collected is so compromised it is useless?
This government has spent like a drunken sailor on numerous useless projects that have consumed hundreds of millions of dollars for no return – La Valle is one example – but for crucial services like policing not a penny has been devoted to training a cadre of scientists in the police force in forensic techniques.
This government has gone cap in hand like a mendicant to the ROC and built several white elephants across the country, namely community centers that are locked up most of the time. It could have made requests for forensic equipment and other police resources from our ally to properly outfit our law enforcement officers but no, Prime Minister Douglas could only offer them political confrontation.
The sad state of crime fighting in the Federation is a dangerous development. There are literally scores of murderers, rapists, child molesters and other undesirable walking freely among us waiting for their next victim because they are beyond the reach of our justice system. They are virtually immune only because this Labour government has ensured that our law enforcement institutions do not have the capability to do their jobs.
Citizens have to decide just how much more they can cope with.
On behalf of myself, my family and the People’s Action Movement I extend sincere condolences to the family of Sylvester Lee.
