BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, April 27, 2017 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, says his Team Unity Administration maintains a zero tolerance approach to crime and stated that the government will continue to provide law enforcement agencies “with as much support as the state could” in the fight against crime.
In the 2017 Budget, the government allotted approximately $72 million to the Ministry of National Security, which represents the largest yearly budgetary allocation ever given to that ministry.
Prime Minister Harris, speaking during a telephone interview with Freedom FM’s Juni Liburd on Thursday (April 27), said this investment has allowed for stepped-up operations by security forces as well as the roll out of several initiatives including the government’s CCTV Project.
“We are even more determined today than we were yesterday to ensure that all can be done; no stone is left unturned to ensure that St. Kitts and Nevis becomes the safest jurisdiction in the Western Hemisphere. That is what we want it to be and that is what we are working to do,” Dr. Harris said.
“That is why we have new initiatives being unfolded. As we speak, the CCTV programme, which has become so critical in the context of a failure of people wanting to volunteer information, the CCTV programme will assist in bringing greater and more efficient evidence to bear for the police in doing their work and that is why we continue to make those investments, as heavy as they are, because we believe no price is too high to ensure the safety and security of our country.”
The nation’s leader went on to say that security agencies will maintain their presence and surveillance of known hot spots in the federation.
He added, “We have for example, knowing that Cayon is a hot spot, put the Defence Force there. The Defence Force has been in Cayon in some permanent way for the last two years. The similar response has happened in Sandy Point, similar response has happened in Nevis and indeed the number of persons who have been sent over to Nevis, that number has recently been increased.”
Prime Minister Harris used the opportunity to further encourage every resident and citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis to play their role in promoting the safety and security of all.
Dr. Harris continued, “The police have said time and time again that the communities are not as forthcoming with information that would help them to bring the necessary indent in the upsurge in crime and so we have to work on that both within the police – their method, their approach, the uncertainties, if any, which members of the community may have – but equally, security starts with each of us and I think every responsible member in St. Kitts and Nevis ought to do what they can, provide what information they can to shun criminals so that we could restore our country to what we would like it to be (and) that is the safest place in the western hemisphere.”
