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Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
July 22, 2010 (SKNIS)

The establishment of a Homicide Unit within the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and the formation of an Inter Ministerial Committee to neutralize and reverse the ills that promote antisocial behaviour, will address factors of crime in the short and medium term.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Honourable Sam Condor, and Acting Commissioner of Police, Stafford Liburd, addressed the developments on this week’s edition of SKNIS’ radio magazine Perspectives.

“We believe that security is not just for the Ministry of National Security. There are health issues, education issues, family issues and we believe that in addressing this matter, we have to look at it in a holistic way,” said Minister Condor. “It is not just a matter of building police stations, and providing bullet proof vests and training for the police. We have to get in the minds and the attitude and the behaviour of our people. This [goes back] to their personal development and upbringing and training.”

The partnership in this committee reflects this thought. It is to be comprised by officials from the Ministries of Education, Youth Empowerment, Justice and Legal Affairs and Community Development.

The Deputy Prime Minister explained that the initiative and other crime strategies will be supported by the 9th European Development Fund and will be rolled out later this year when funds become available.

Meanwhile, Acting Commissioner of Police Liburd told SKNIS that the public had been more cooperative with the law enforcement agency. He noted that the record number of guns removed from the streets, which now stands at 32, is a direct result of proactive aggressive police tactics, as well as stepped up effective intelligence gathering measures.

As for homicides, which are typically gang related, Mr. Liburd explained that a specialized unit in the force will soon be operational to carry out investigations and tackle the issue head on.

“The development of this unit will be supported by (advanced) resources,” he stressed. “We are looking locally for persons with the knowledge to give support into this unit in a very tangible way and so more will be said as we move forward.”

The police official declined further comment citing the need for confidentiality but wanted to assure the public that the formation of the squad would be operational in just a few weeks time.

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Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
July 14, 2010 (CUOPM)

St. Kitts and Nevis intends to tackle crime on several fronts to ensure the twin-island federation remains a country where the citizens, residents and the business community feel secure.

St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas told the 28th Private Sector Banquet that his governing St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party Administration has the crime situation high on the national agenda.

He said using 3.8 million Euros from the European Union, tackling crime-fighting issues from several indentified fronts have been identified.

“They include but are not limited to the following:

1. Introducing the use of effective international best practices and appropriate technologies to improve the prevention, reduction and detection of crimes.

2. Upgrading the curriculum of the police training school.

3. Improving recruitment practices, and enhancing staffing policies and working conditions for the police in order to attract more graduates into the service.

4. Provide training at regional and international institutions in the areas of forensic sciences, criminology, management and administration.

5. Rehabilitate, upgrade and refurbish police stations, the police training school and the coastguard facilities.

6. Complete formulation of an inter-ministerial approach to crime fighting through collaboration between ministries such as the Ministries of Education, Youth, Justice and Legal Affairs, Social and Community Development among others.

Prime Minister Douglas told the audience prior to the presentation by the guest speaker, the Hon. Mark Brantley, the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly that the new approach to law and order will involve strengthening the management framework of the various units that are mandated to deliver on programmes that are action oriented with a results-based approach.

The Ministry of National Security has proposed, after consultations with INTERPOL, the restructuring of the Intelligence Unit that has been given a revised mandate to drive the operations, crime detection and information gathering initiatives of the Police Force.

Dr. Douglas said that the introduction of a Homicide Unit, another initiative for the Police Force, takes into consideration the need for focussed attention of the projections for improved crime detection and conviction rates.

“With the increased emphasis on the use of forensics in crime detection, the establishment of the Forensic Lab in the sub-region will allow for increased access by the Police Forces in the smaller islands of the Eastern Caribbean to the technology and will enhance their crime detection capabilities. The Police Force will require a dedicated Unit with the expertise to ensure the effective outcome,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

Dr. Douglas also disclosed that St. Kitts and Nevis and other members of the Caribbean Community will see the materialization of a Plan of Action and Framework for cooperation on security as a deliverable of the United States Government’s regional support initiative.

“St. Kitts and Nevis led the discussions on behalf of CARICOM that will be formalized in Washington this month when the draft declaration and Plan of Action will be signed as a show of political support to strengthen the Caribbean – United States security cooperation strategic mechanism,” said Dr. Douglas.

The Plan of Action provides for a balanced and integrated approach that incorporates effective law enforcement with youth crime prevention and interventions and the provision of viable options for rehabilitation and reintegration for youth who leave gangs.

“In collaborating with the region on the issue of illegal firearms, there is strong cooperation in the area of combating illicit trafficking, development of investigative techniques and improvement of the conviction and detection rates of firearm traffickers,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

He took the opportunity to thank the members of the Private Sector for the support provided over the years to the local law enforcement institutions.

“We express our appreciation that we are receiving from Governments and international institutions. Fighting crime must involve all of us doing our part to improve the quality of life in the Federation. Let us commit to closer collaboration on this matter, as well as to all the other issues that affect the development of our country,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

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2. St. Kitts – Nevis Reviews Crime Fighting Strategies
3. St. Kitts – Nevis Aims To Step Up Crime Fighting
4. Canadian Police To Help Fight Crime in St. Kitts – Nevis
5. St. Kitts – Nevis Still Rife With Violent Crime

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
May 26, 2010 (CUOPM)

Caribbean nations and the United States begin talks Thursday aimed at forging a security cooperation arrangement to tackle criminal and security threats to the region.

The Inaugural Caribbean-United States Security Cooperation Dialogue will take place in Washington D.C., USA.

The initiative is in keeping with a commitment made by U.S. President Hon. Barack Obama at the 5th Summit of the Americas held in Trinidad and Tobago in April 2009, to pursue a security partnership with the Caribbean through a Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).

Since the Summit, CARICOM and U.S. officials have met jointly to define and develop the goals and scope of the CBSI, which has been rationalised as a “multi-year, multi-faceted effort by the US Government and Caribbean partners to develop a joint regional citizen safety strategy to tackle the full range of security and criminal threats to the Caribbean Basin.”

Discussions will take place under four broad priority areas namely: Substantially Reduce Illicit Trafficking; Advance Public Safety and Security; Promote Social Justice; and State Contributions.

Specific focus will be on strategies to improve the Region’s law enforcement capacity to substantially reduce illicit trafficking associated with transnational crimes, and approaches to prevent crimes by focusing on youth and other vulnerable sections of the population.

Chairman of the CARICOM Council for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE), Senator the Hon. Dr. Errol Cort of Antigua and Barbuda will lead the CARICOM delegation, while US Attorney General Hon. Eric Holder is among the Washington officials who will be in dialogue with the CARICOM delegation.

Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Arturo Valenzuela will conduct the opening ceremony on the US side and Secretary for Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has been invited to be part of the dialogue.

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3. Caribbean Leaders Discuss Numerous Crime Issues
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