BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, May 24th 2011 (CUOPM) – National Security is a priority and will continue to be a priority.
So says St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas who detailed the expansive assets given to the law enforcement body to keep the twin-island Federation safe and prevent and detect crime.
He said that strong and effective policing in St. Kitts and Nevis as elsewhere requires a certain culture and standards and that is why his government is determined to push and maximize.
“There has to be careful management of, responsibility toward, and accountability regarding the assets that are placed in the hands of police. This is a basic premise of sound management. It applies in all organizations, all institutions, all over the world, and it must apply in all Government and even private entities here in the Federation – including the police,” said Prime Minister Douglas during his weekly radio programme “Ask the Prime Minister.”
Speaking of assets, Prime Minister Douglas says his Government understands the importance of both mobility as well as visibility to crime fighting – anywhere in the world.
“That is why, in addition to the cars already at the disposal of our Police, some thirty additional vehicles were provided to them over the past four years alone – specifically to enhance their mobility in the low-lying areas of the country. The Defense Force, as we know, has access to rugged four-wheel vehicles, and these are used in those joint operations that take place in the mountainous regions of the Federation. Even so, however, we have been working very closely with our national security counterparts in Europe and have successfully negotiated the provision of rough-terrain four wheel vehicles for the Royal St. Christopher Police Force made possible via the 10 European Development Fund,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
He said the St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force has been provided with state of the art crime detection equipment, automated fingerprint machines, crime scene kits and the microscope that is so key to the identification of firearms used in the execution of criminal acts.
“We, in other words, have strengthened, and will continue to strengthen, our forensic capabilities,” said Dr. Douglas, who pointed to the essential of communication that is important to crime fighting.
“Heaven knows that it is key to criminality – and so it must be key in all efforts to counter criminality. In this regard, a partnership between the Government and the Federation’s main telecom provider resulted in some 200 telephones being provided to our Police – specifically in order to create a closed user group arrangement, and to improve the interoperability of our Forces. Our men and women in the field are equipped with hand held radios, and there is a provision in the present budget for over $100,000 in additional communications assets,” said Dr. Douglas.
He said the Government also continues to invest heavily in the training of the Police. “Our current expenditures in this area alone, for example, equals almost half a million dollars – some $400,000. This is in addition to the range of courses in intelligence gathering, cyber crime detection, crime scene processing and so on, to which we ensure that they are exposed when offered by other countries and entities,” said the St. Kitts and Nevis leader.
He recalled the National Consultation on Crime in December of 2008. In which a National Task Force on Crime grew out of that Consultation.
“We expect their findings and recommendations, once they are officially submitted, to be an important contribution to our overall efforts to break the back of this domestic, regional, and international phenomenon,” said Dr. Douglas, who urged every segment of the society to step forward with their ideas as to how crime can best be tackled.
“I have also stressed that it is important to identify not only what the Government should do, what the Churches should do, what parents should do, what the private sector should do, but what the person or group making recommendations themselves are ready to do. The easiest thing for any of us to do is to identify what others should be doing in this battle against crime, but my challenge to all individuals, and to all organizations, is to outline, to the rest of the nation exactly what they – the recommenders – are ready, and willing, and committed to do,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
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