Nevis premier says everyone has a part to play in crime fight
Nevis Premier and Opposition Leader Mark Brantley has called on all residents of St Kitts and Nevis to assist police in their fight against crime.
Brantley made the plea this morning as the country reels from its 27th and 28th murder for 2023.
At a media conference, he said every resident “must take some measure of responsibility” as the federation’s criminal elements are products of the homes and neighbourhoods in which they were raised.
Brantley told journalists while he agrees the police and government should face criticism for the crime situation, they cannot arrest lawbreakers without information from citizens.
“Many people say: ‘Let the police go and do their work’. But when they see crime, they are not willing to share information with the police as if the police are superhuman. So by some process of discernment, the police will automatically know who commits the crime,” he stated.
“Every country in the world…depends on their population to fight crime. Here in St Kitts and Nevis, a community is not prepared to assist the police but keeps saying they must do more. So crime is our problem.”
Looking the other way is not the answer for Kittitians and Nevisians; as Brantley said, crime will eventually reach their doorsteps.
Brantley noted the state had created initiatives such as the “Peace Program” to encourage at-risk residents to turn away from a life of crime. Still, he explained violence usually spikes when these projects end as they do not address the root causes of criminality.
Brantley said now is not the time for politicians on the island to score cheap points against each other, and he called on Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew to reach out to the opposing sides to discuss the matter.
Brantley stated it was essential to have the political forces “singing from the same hymn” to message criminals that their actions will not be tolerated.
0 Comment