St Kitts and Nevis PM vows zero tolerance approach to crime
Crime has been one of the hot-button issues in St Kitts and Nevis, and Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew said the government is taking a zero-tolerance approach to the issue.
During an appearance on “The Edge” program on state broadcaster ZIZ yesterday, Drew said his administration is rolling out a comprehensive plan that will look at crime as a public health crisis to tackle the root causes of the problem.
This was a measure that was discussed in April when Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders met in Trinidad and Tobago.
“Here in St Kitts and Nevis, we would have had the local issues that would have affected us, and so we are putting measures in place to deal with it, not only in the short-term but once and for all to deal with the issue of violence here in St Kitts and Nevis,” said Drew.
Drew, who is also the Minister of National Security, has come under fire for the government’s handling of crime after the country recorded its 27th and 28th murders this year on Wednesday.
A task force, which the prime minister leads, is working on a holistic plan to address crime in St Kitts and Nevis.
“For many years, we had not implemented such a comprehensive programme to deal with crime and violence. [Past administrations] had attempted to do things here and there … some of which would have aggravated the situation. However, we recognize that the violence issue has to be dealt with at its root, along with issues being presented now,” Drew said.
Drew added that he empathises with the families that have lost their loved ones to violence.
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