~~Adz:Right~~BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, OCTOBER 26TH 2006 - St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas said Wednesday that Tuesday's planned meeting between himself and the Police Welfare Association was aimed at provoking a public political confrontation with his government.
In a statement at the conclusion of the one-day National Consultation on the economy, Prime Minister Douglas said that if the meeting had taken place with the Executive Officers of the Police Welfare Association, he would have outlined to the PWA "the majority areas of their concerns which had already found favour and support with the Cabinet-appointed Committee and which would soon be presented to the Cabinet for final approval."
Prime Minister Douglas disclosed that last week Thursday or Friday, he received an interim verbal report from the Budget Director in the Ministry of Finance and Chair of the Cabinet-appointed multi-department committee, Mr. Calvin Edwards on how the Committee was proceeding in addressing the concerns of the Police Welfare Association which have been presented to the Ministry of National Security and to the Government.
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| Wednesday's Annual Consultation on the St. Kitts and Nevis economy |
Dr. Douglas said however that the leadership of the Police Welfare Association did not want to hear of the positive developments.
"They aborted the meeting that was scheduled with the Prime Minister at the Office of the Prime Minister, because it would appear they wanted a public confrontation with the Government, a political confrontation with me, the Prime Minister, in an attempt to bring political pressure on the prime minister and the government, in publicly airing genuine concerns which confront the security forces, especially the police and some of which are genuine concerns that are being addressed by the government through the Cabinet-appointed Departmental Committee," said Prime Minister Douglas.
"Today I warn that if the general body and leadership of the Police Force do not put in place a responsible, credible and professional leadership of the Police Welfare Association, there will continue to be confrontation because where the leadership of the Police Welfare Association is seeking political confrontation, then it will be met with a political solution as well," said Dr. Douglas.
Prime Minister Douglas in reviewing the discussions on crime and other national security matters with some 200 stakeholders during the one-day consultation earlier referred to the commitment to provide a safe environment in which the people of St. Kitts and Nevis will continue to live, invest and do business.
~~Adz:Right~~"The fundamental question has to be asked. Have we agreed as to how we will fight crime in this country? How do we fight crime to create this environment? What are the agencies to be employed? How can they be better empowered to pursue their roles?," asked Prime Minister Douglas, who pointed out that the agencies are the security forces " the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force, the Judicial and legal agencies, the Penal System and the community which must be included in the groups that must become actively involved in creating the safe and secure environment in which to live.
He said he has recognised that there are issues with the security forces " especially the Police.
"There is the public perception of poor performance of some of the security forces. They make mention of the unprofessionalism, the poor response to calls for help from the community in general, the inadequate follow up with regard to investigation of cases, but we also recognised that there is in fact a perception of inadequate working conditions, which have led to a number of calls for the rebuilding and refurbishment of a number of police stations in both islands of St. Kitts and Nevis; adequate tools, equipment, vehicles for more mobility; increased allowances and increased salary levels," pointed out Prime Minister Douglas, who added that these concerns are presently being addressed by the government, through a Cabinet-appointed multi-department committee that has been drawn from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Human Resources Management Department, the Police Department and other supporting departments.
