BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE National Implementation Task Force on Crime (NITFC) held its second meeting yesterday (Feb. 5) and, according to Chairman Errol Maynard, the body is well on its way to achieving its mandate.
The NITFC was established in January to implement the recommendations from the National Consultation on Crime held in December. After the committee has devised appropriate initiatives, they will be given to the National Crime Commission for further execution.
The Task Force is comprised of a wide range of stakeholders, including the Ministries of National Security, Legal Affairs, and Education, the St. Kitts National Youth Parliament Association, the Clergy, representatives from the Nevis Island Administration, and other civil society organisations and interest groups.
Maynard, who is also the Federation’s Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), stated the discussion so far has been very lively and dynamic.
While he could not give details to the specific nature of the discussion and resolutions put forward, he revealed that the committee had formulated strategies concerning the police force, the teaching community and young persons.
“Things are shaping up very well; considerable progress has been made on the development of the implementation plan. The active participation is very encouraging and I am pleased at the level of involvement that has been demonstrated.
“We tried to involve the key partners who were represented at the Consultation in December and while not all of them may have been present at the first two meetings, we are working to ensure full participation by all relevant organisations and stakeholders. I am positive we will meet our deadline,” Maynard said.
He declined to divulge this deadline but noted that it fell before the end of the first quarter of the year.
Last month Prime Minister Dr. the Hon Denzil Douglas revealed the government’s three-pronged approach to crime prevention and detection of which the National Crime Consultation and subsequent follow-up activities were an important component.
The other elements of the aforementioned strategy were closer partnerships among the Federation’s security agencies and the government’s collaboration with international law enforcement agencies, such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, to reduce the incidences of violent crime.
