PM Douglas takes responsibility...implements Ministerial Task Force
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – CONFIRMING what many believed was in the pipelines for sometime, Prime Minister Denzil L. Douglas, in a national address last evening (Aug. 31), stripped Minister of National Security Sam Condor of his responsibilities for the Police and Defence Forces.
In February, 2010, during a swearing-in ceremony held at Warner Park, Condor was named Minister with responsibility for Foreign Affairs, National Security and Immigration, Labour and Social Security.
And in his national address last evening, PM Douglas explained that his Deputy “has been working assiduously to combat crime” and expressed his certainty that “many of the initiatives that have been introduced by the Deputy Prime Minister will bear fruit over time”.
Notwithstanding, Dr. Douglas expressed that the time has come when he, as leader of the Federation of St. Christopher and Nevis, must take responsibility for the “resolution (of crime) over a reasonable period”.
He said the problem demands the attention of the “highest level of our government”.
“His Excellency the Governor General, Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, acting on my advice and in keeping with our Constitution, has assigned the subjects of Police and Defence Force to me…It is intended that the Hon. Sam Condor, our Deputy Prime Minister, will continue to hold all of his other portfolios in a restructured Ministry, restyled the Ministry of Home Land Security, Foreign Affairs, Labour and Social Security. The Department of Home Land Security will include Immigration, Passports, Prisons, Fire & Rescue Services, and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),” Dr. Douglas elucidated.
The nation was informed by Dr. Douglas that attempts to bolster existing crime-fighting initiatives include the instituting of a Ministerial Task Force - which he would head- and the establishment of a Special Anti-Crime Unit which would fall under his purview.
“It is in this context that I have decided to establish a Ministerial Task Force that will be comprised of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Attorney General, the Minister of Works and myself as Chairman, to provide general oversight and policy guidance in relation to all crime fighting activities in our Federation. This Task Force will ensure that the security forces are provided the resources that they require to effectively fight crime and will monitor the implementation of a comprehensive crime reduction plan that we intend to publish shortly.
“This Task Force will also liaise with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Crime and Violence, which establishment was recently announced by the Minister of National Security, and will seek to ensure that all plans and initiatives in relation to crime are subjected meaningful bipartisan consultations and supported by appropriate legislation in Parliament. As Chairman of the Ministerial Task Force on Crime, I will keep the Parliamentary Select Committee updated on a regular basis on the progress that we are making in respect of the fight against crime and take full account of their views and comments in relation to the fight against crime and violence.”
Dr. Douglas, having named Deputy Prime Minister Condor as a member of the Ministerial Task Force, said his role in arresting crime and violence in the nation would continue to be one of significance.
“…he would be able to provide help in carrying forward many of the crime fighting activities and programmes that he initiated. Indeed, the government and the entire nation owes the Hon. Sam Condor a great debt of gratitude for his hard work in the fight against crime to date, and for the devotion and commitment that he displays in the discharge of his mandate as Minister of National Security.”
