St Kitts establishes task force to deal with crime and violence
Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew has established a National Security Taskforce to tackle crime and violence in St Kitts and Nevis.
The Taskforce, which is headed by Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Drew, also includes senior management officials from across the government and Dr Izben Williams, a consultant psychiatrist and head of the Department of Behavioural Sciences & Medical Ethics at the Windsor University School of Medicine
In announcing the task force, Drew stated: “Societal peace and stability are pre-requisites for true social and economic development and for accomplishing our progressive Sustainable Island State Agenda. I strongly believe that what is learned can be unlearned if there is an early application of best-practice interventions from various sectors”.
Williams will chair the task force.
Williams was the keynote speaker at the Regional Symposium to address Crime and Violence as a Public Health Issue – The Crime Challenge held in April 2023 in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. In his address, Williams stated: “Violence can be prevented. We know we have developed tools, and we must now harness the courage to face up to it and reverse its trend. Violence is now clearly recognised as a public health problem, but just 40 years ago, the words “violence” and “health” were rarely used in the same sentence. Several serendipitous occurrences and observed trends contributed to a growing recognition and acceptance that violence could and should be addressed from a public health vantage.” The task force is currently developing a comprehensive action plan to implement and sustain a culture of non-violence within the federation.
The plan will utilise a holistic approach incorporating national security, social development, education, and health.
It will target children from as young as six years old to 19.
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