BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, August 15, 2019 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – The Peace Initiatives which were derived from engagements with gangs over recent months have brought significant peace dividend to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, said citizens and residents now feel freer and safer moving about the country, as gang related homicides are down by 71 percent for the period March 1 to August 12, 2019 compared to the same period last year.
“Between February 26th and now [August 13], there has not been one single gang related homicide. We can truly say since that date of February 25th when we had the last homicide, peace and security have now abound in this beautiful federation which we call home and all of us must take commendation for this,” the prime minister added.
For the period of the Peace Initiative, from March 01 to August 12, 2019, non-fatal shootings are down by a massive 70 percent year on year.
Prime Minister Harris said, “Our gains in crime fighting are conducive to a safer and more prosperous business environment, as well as the universal enjoyment of peace and tranquility that St. Kitts and Nevis has become famous for. Of course in this environment, we have greater mobility from east to west, north and south, and between every alley-way and byway confidence has been returned to our communities and there’s a sense of peace and ease in which people go about their ordinary lives.”
These statistics were delivered to the people at a historic press conference organized by the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force on Tuesday, August 13, 2019.
At that press conference, it was also revealed that gang members had surrendered 30 illegal firearms to the police via a third party.
Prime Minister Harris spoke to the significance of this development, adding, “Every illegal firearm recovered by our law enforcement represents one less dangerous weapon available to injure and kill our people.”
