COMPREHENSIVE MEASURES IMPLEMENTED TO CURB RISING CRIME AND BOOST PUBLIC  SAFETY IN ST. KITTS AND NEVIS

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, April 24, 2024 (SKNIS) – Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, assured citizens and residents of St. Kitts and Nevis that their safety remains a top priority for the government. As such, the national security apparatus is implementing several data-driven strategic measures designed to enhance security throughout the Federation.  

On Tuesday, April 23, Prime Minister Drew, upon his immediate return to the country following his working engagements overseas, convened an important meeting with the Commissioner of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis, James Sutton and Commander of the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF), Lt. Colonel J. Anthony Comrie to evaluate the crime situation in the country.

(L-R): Commissioner of Police, James Sutton; Attorney-General Hon Garth Wilkin; Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew; Glenroy Blanchette, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security; Commander of the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force, Lt. Colonel J. Anthony Comrie

This was followed up by a broader meeting with members of the Federal Cabinet on Wednesday, April 24, where the top brass of the police force and Lt. Colonel Comrie, presented updated short and long-term crime prevention strategies that can lead to reduced instances of violence as was recently witnessed 

“They presented a comprehensive plan going forward, and that would be evaluated and assessed because we have to deal with this in the short, medium and long term,” Dr. Drew said. “If you look at the first quarter[ of 2024], I think where they [security forces] would have applied that strategy, especially in the areas where they would have deemed high risk they had significant positive results and deaths by violent means went down and crime overall went down compared to 2023,” the national security minister added. 

Dr. Drew said the security apparatus is now putting additional strategies in place to deal with the current surge in gun-related crimes, “and so we are going to see short-term benefits from those interventions as well.”

The national security minister gave further assurance that even as these measures are presently being implemented, the security agencies are also seeking new strategies to complement the comprehensive approach being taken to ensure peace and security in the Federation.

The prime minister said, “If a particular strategy is applied and that does not work, we do not stop there. We would work and work until we get the right strategy, being evidence-based.”

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