A cheque valued at just over US$100,000 was presented to Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, by Resident Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to St. Kitts and Nevis, His Excellency Tom Lee, during a brief ceremony at Government Headquarters earlier today (Thursday, August 30).
During the ceremony, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ian Queeley, noted that the duty belt is a standard kit in every modern police force that offers greater safety and protection for on duty officers.
The commissioner added, “The duty belts come equipped with level 3 holsters, which are designed to protect the officers from losing their firearms in the event of any encounter—it is a safety mechanism that is built in. It comes equipped with the holster, baton, handcuff and case, OC [oleoresin capsicum] spray and case, and we would just have to fit our communications device unto it.”
In making his presentation to the prime minister, Ambassador Lee quoted the old proverb, ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed’, to emphasize the point that the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) stands ready to assist the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis where necessary.
“As a very good friend of St. Kitts and Nevis, we are very pleased to respond to your needs and today, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I am very pleased to present a cheque in the amount of US $105,700 to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis,” Ambassador Lee said.
Prime Minister Harris, on behalf of the Government and people of St. Kitts and Nevis, expressed profound gratitude to Ambassador Lee and the Government of Taiwan for this significant investment in the peace and safety of the country.
“At this particular moment in time, the peace and security of the country is secure and we need to have urgent improvements in the results on the rubric of public safety and security. By providing additional support to our law enforcement officers, and our police men and women in particular, you have helped us then to put them in a better stead to deliver on the reasonable expectations of the country for an improvement in their delivery and in their outcomes,” the prime minister remarked.
The cheque handing over ceremony was also attended by Cabinet Secretary, Mrs. Josephine Huggins and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Mr. Osmond Petty.
According to Commissioner Queeley, the first set of duty belts being secured through financing from the Government of Taiwan will first be outfitted to the junior ranks within the police force.
