“Whether we like it or not the fact is that with the immense and widespread international attention that this incident has attracted the robbery of these 17 tourists is a threat to our very survival as they directly threaten our main industry: tourism,” says Grant.
St.Kitts –Nevis Opposition Party People’s Action Movement Leader Lindsay Grant is expressing grave concern and immense sorrow over a recent incident that saw some 17 tourists being robbed at gunpoint at the Federations’ Premier tourist attraction, the Brimstone Hill fortress, which is a world heritage site. The incident which took place on Sunday has been drawing international attention as an Associated Press story regarding the incident has been picked up by a number of major international news outlets including MSNBC, CNN and USA Today.
“I am truly saddened by this incident,” said Opposition Party Leader Lindsay Grant. My heart goes out to the 17 victims of this robbery and, indeed, all who have been victims of such incidents including locals and visitors alike.”
The Opposition Party leader gave some assurance to potential visitors to the country.
He said “Beyond sympathy, however, I want to assure all potential visitors to this country as well as citizens of our beloved country that the People’s Action Movement has every confidence in the security forces of this country and their ability to bring the perpetrators of this dastardly crime to justice,” Grant continued.
Grant however lamented the serious state of crime in the federation. In the last 4 years the country has had and unprecedented 100 plus murders including 50 in the last 23 months. Over the last 3 weeks the country has seen yet another upsurge with 2 murders and a spate of robberies and shootings in the last 3 weeks.
Grant stated “Over the last decade, we have been overwhelmed by events of crime and violence that are alien to us in St.Kitts-Nevis. This phenomenon I am certain is of grave concern not only to me but to every law-abiding citizen in this country. Over the last few years and in particular over the last year the country’s sensibilities have been seriously infuriated by the continuing incidents of shootings, murders and robberies. Most recently the murders of two teenagers and yesterday the robbery of 17 tourists on their way to a visit to our most treasured tourist attraction Brimstone Hill.”
The government’s ineffectiveness in dealing with the crime situation was also highlighted by Grant who further called on all citizens to play a part in the apprehension of the tourist bandits and the curbing of crime generally.
“The government has largely been ineffective in handling the problem. However we cannot sit back and hope that they will eventually make the management of crime and violence a top priority. We can no longer sit back and hope they will all of a sudden become pregnant with ideas for dealing with crime We all must take personal responsibility and play our part in this fight against crime to ensure the safety of each other. We must report any suspicious activity to the police and we must freely offer information to the authorities. The police are seriously under-resourced due to lack of proper government attention. They therefore simply cannot do it alone. We as a people have to fill in where the government has left a huge void,” Grant stated.
“ I want to call on the Prime Minister once again as I have been doing for the past 10 years to take the fight against crime seriously, as is being shown now crime can potentially destroy not only the lives of some but the livelihoods of most,” Grant lamented.
