By Stephen Hector

Stephen Hector

For too long the security officials have told the public that no gangs exist. For too long the music and entertainment industry has suffered due to the fact that crime was foolishly thought to be as a result of such music and entertainment. Crime was in fact described by other stakeholders as a natural consequence of successful economic and national growth. In the growth of any business it is expected that its directors will look at case studies and model or pattern its operations to avoid known and potentially known pitfalls. The business of crime fighting is no exception. It is sad that as a country we did not pay closer attention to these indications of anti-social and lawless behaviour.
 
I would like at this stage to thank retired Commissioner of Police Mr. Calvin Fahie for his sterling contribution to the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force. It is however saddening to note that since his departure the level of strategic leadership has dropped below ground zero. For those of you who wish to critique my opinion, I ask of you to find out when and by whom the last three strategic plans of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force were done. It is only when this information is known then the public can really appreciate and commend the officers of the Nevis Division for their real commitment and dedication to the business of Crime Fighting.

It is important for crime within the Federation to be properly analysed by a wide group of persons so that the root cause or significant causes could be identified and long-term measures to deal with could be wholesomely implemented. My observations reveal that there is a serious social problem within the Federation and the crime statistics will show that many of the known serious crime offenders and suspects were at a very impressionable age during our country’s last most serious catastrophe in the first half of the nineties.

It is no use pointing fingers in an effort to blame who caused what, when and where, but rather it behooves all of us to chart the way forward for the benefit of our country’s economy, our renowned peace and tranquillity and for future generations to come. In moving forward I would ask for the authorities to invest heavily in two areas. Special attention must be given to the intelligence gathering and analysis capabilities of its security forces. I am not pressuring the fiscal authorities to create more; all I am asking in the interest of national security is for a greater allocation of available resources be  directed to the intelligence arms. The present situation, in my view, is a warfare which requires a high level of strategy and it is imperative that we act now before it turns into an asymmetrical warfare. We must also turn our attention to the security of our borders. I can recall voicing this opinion on the first edition of and now popular radio show ‘On the Mark’. It has always been my opinion that if people can come ashore illegally then anything else can come. I need not add that the enforcement agencies efforts of drugs and firearm interdiction are meaningless if no meaningful efforts are continuously made to safeguard our shores. “Why bail a cistern in the rainy season without disconnecting the spout.”

I have lived with this philosophy for the past six years: “Theory without practice is meaningless and practice without theory is pointless.” As a country we need to measure what we do or else our mistakes may create a different norm of our society; a new norm which may be detrimental to all the hard work of our forefathers and our heroes; a new norm which is indeed not healthy for sustainable growth of the population for present and future generations to come.