BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JANUARY 2ND 2011 (CUOPM) – Plans to reduce the drop-out rate in schools will be implemented this year and a new and upgraded police post to serve the areas of Frigate Bay and Southeast Peninsula are among strategies to deal with crime in the New Year, says St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas.
“We have also been addressing some of the long-term issues in relation to youth crime, in particular. Hence, there have been a number of initiatives in the education sector to reduce the drop-out rates in our schools and to identify and provide early assistance to young people at risk,” said the St. Kitts and Nevis leader in his New Year’s message.
Dr. Douglas said part of an exercise aimed at developing strategies to achieve greater alignment between the structure of the Security Forces and the structure of the economy is being examined.
He said a greater police presence in the Frigate Bay and Southeast Peninsula area should result in moving the present police outpost to new facilities in a more strategic location in Frigate Bay, and increasing the visibility of the security forces in the areas frequently visited by tourists and residents, such as The Strip and Zenway Boulevard.
“This would entail making the Frigate Bay area and Southeast Peninsula a new Police Division headed by a Superintendent of Police. Of course, we will engage in consultations about these initiatives before implementing them,” said Dr. Douglas, who in his New Year’s message referred to the prevalence of criminal activities as a major risk to plans for economic growth and development.
“Our economy has changed over time and the impact of tourism related earnings permeates all sectors of the economy. Unfortunately, one major criminal incident can destroy the industry and set back our development many decades. Crime also affects our wellbeing and sense of security as a people, so that we must protect ourselves if we are to persuade potential visitors that we would be capable of protecting them when they visit our Federation,” said the Prime Minister.
He noted that during his recent budget presentation, he had outlined a number of critical actions that were being taken to deal with crime in the short term.
“These include the provision of additional facilities and equipment, human resource development and training for our Law Enforcement Officers, collaboration with international bodies and foreign Governments and more vigorous detection and prosecution of criminals,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
