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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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Charlestown, Nevis
June 01, 2010

The Hon. Joseph Parry’s efforts to bridge the gap on crime prevention continued through a recent Symposium on Crime hosted by his Ministry at the Pinney’s Beach Hotel.

Held under the theme “Reclaiming our society”, the Premier reiterated the role of parents and guardians with regard to the upbringing of their children and said all should play their part to bring together a well organized society free of crime and violence.

“We have people who are here from the church, the schools and from the various communities on the island.  We expect that at the end of this seminar one would return to the community with one vision and one voice. Knowing exactly what is expected of each of us…This symposium is a symposium with a difference. This meeting on crime is not a symposium about theory or even a seminar about finding out what the problems are.  I ask that teachers, parents and mentors strive to talk to the children, spend quality time with them and develop  constructive, holistic and multi-sector approaches to anti- social behaviors,” commented Premier Parry.

According to the Premier, the Leader of the Opposition was invited, with the intention to demonstrate to the community that there is no division or difference in the government’s efforts to eradicate crime and anti-social behavior from the society.

“No one must be able to take advantage, no one must be able to point a figure, one must be able to see that we all, no matter what differences we may have, we all must move in the same direction,” Mr. Parry stated.

During the seminar, the Premier congratulated the Police for the work they have done to fight crime over the years and said his Administration would continue to support their efforts.

Mr. Parry said his Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) led Administration had given considerable support to the Police and he noted that the assistance was making a difference.

In the Premier’s speech he stressed the importance of Community Policing.  He said it is one of the best ways to join with the community, to win the community’s friendship and place the Police Force in a position where it could garner information easily.

“There is a loss of confidence and I expect that the efforts that the police have undertaken will win back that confidence of the public.”

He also urged the Police to know the young people and reach out to the community, so that they would be able to work in harmony with the community.

The Premier reminisced, that as a small boy the Police was part of the society and he saw no reason why that relationship should change.

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St. Kitts – Nevis Customs Officers Receive More Training

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
May 11, 2010 (CUOPM)

St. Kitts and Nevis Customs Officers, Ivy Browne and Ernesto Thomas are getting training in combating smuggling.

Browne and Thomas are among their counterparts from several countries in the Caribbean attending a Product Identification Training Course in Barbados.

The May 11 and 12 training programme is in keeping with Customs Law Enforcement and Private Sector initiatives to counter global trends against smuggling.

It is organised by the Barbados Customs and Excise Department, in cooperation with Carisma Marketing Services, a subsidiary of British American Tobacco.

This initiative comes against the backdrop of the large-scale smuggling of contraband and counterfeit cigarettes which are entering Caribbean markets, resulting in the loss of millions of dollars in revenue annually to governments and considerable disruption in the trading patterns of legitimate manufacturers.

Participants of the course, who are drawn from Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, St. Kitts & Nevis, Grenada, Belize, Bonaire and Curacao are being provided insights into differentiating between authentic and counterfeit products and will be updated on global trends and activities relating to counterfeit activities.

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