BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PRIME MINISTER Dr. the Hon. Denzil Douglas has denied that there is a need for the Regional Security System (RSS) to assist in the Federation’s crime situation, insisting that his government’s policies must be allowed enough time to be fully implemented.
Addressing the concern of a caller this morning (May 26) on his weekly radio programme “Ask the PM”, Dr. Douglas said that even though his government has considered the option of bringing the RSS to St. Kitts-Nevis, they do not feel that now is the time.
“St. Kitts-Nevis in the past has asked for the assistance of our regional security forces in tackling the problem of crime. Recently, of course, we have not had a formal request from this government to the RSS for troops to be here in tackling this present crime wave.”
With 12 persons dead so far in 2009 due to the ongoing wave of violent crime, the PM said that the issue of asking for regional assistance has been seriously discussed with everyone from regional heads of government to the police high command.
However, he stated that his government would only put in a formal request to the RSS for assistance if it became “absolutely necessary” to do so.
“We have looked at it and we have taken a position…that it is a situation we would be able to control ourselves. At the moment, we are still working on a number of options that we have.”
Among the plans being enacted by the government is the Anti-gang Unit, which the Prime Minister said would take some time to establish itself and become effective within the community.
“We have got an intelligence arm and also an enforcement arm. We are looking at it to see if it will take the appropriate shape and do the appropriate work that it has been developed to do. It takes time to develop the capacity and capability.”
He also said that all levels of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force continue to undergo training that would advance their crime fighting skills.
While he remained confident that the initiatives put forth by the government would be effective, the PM said regional assistance is something that “has never been ruled out”.
“Once, however, we are of the opinion that this has not worked and it would need to be supplemented with forces from outside, there will be no hesitation in my Cabinet to take the appropriate decision to bring the RSS into St. Kitts and Nevis,” he stated.
