14 Homicides in eight months… 

By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WHILE it is globally known that crime has no face and it is inevitable in every society, the gravity of it, especially homicides, will definitely have significant adverse socio-economic effects, particularly on small developing states like St. Kitts and Nevis.

Many citizens and residents have voiced their disgust on the high murder rate experienced in this twin-island Federation of which the victims and perpetrators are mainly youths. 

They also place their safety in the hands of the security forces and hope that in the near future the authorities would find a solution to this scourge of society.

From this backdrop, SKNVibes sought to examine the statistics and found that up to August 11, 2008 the number of homicides committed in St. Kitts and Nevis has exceeded all similar periods in the history of this nation.

As recent as Monday, August 11, 2008 the Federation was forced to grapple with yet another murder, the 14th to have occurred since the beginning of the year.

Careful perusal of the statistics shows that in 2005, during the months of January and August, there were 10 murders with the last one being committed on August 28; while seven additional murders took place in the remaining months of that year.

In 2007, during the same period, the Federation recorded 10 murders, three of which were committed in August, and six more were recorded between September and December.

As of today, Saturday, August 15, the Federation’s murder rate stands at 14, which is four more than that recorded for the same period in the two previous years.

In 2006, during the first quarter of the year, five murders were committed and in 2007, during the same period, three were committed while in 2008 four murders were committed. 

During the second quarter of those years, three, four and seven murders were committed respectively. 

The third quarter for 2006 and 2007 saw three and four murders being committed respectively. It is hoped however that the number of murders would remain as is for the remaining months of this year.

On examination of the average of homicides committed during the period of discussion, 1.25 homicides per month were recorded in 2006 and the same was recorded in 2007. This year, however, the Federation has recorded a 1.75 average.

The year 2006 was a record year for the Federation as it had recorded the highest murder rate ever seen in the country. 

Since then, that year has been used as a yard stick in ascertaining whether or not the nation is in reasonable standing relative to the number of murders committed.

~~Adz:Left~~ It should be noted however that eight murders were recorded in the previous year, which shows that the murder rate increased by 112.5 percent.

It can therefore be argued that there are still four and a half months remaining in 2008 and it is far too early to make a comparison with previous years.