BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, July 21, 2017 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, has issued a challenge to law enforcement officers to continue to provide exemplary service to the people as “the country and the people rightly demand only the best service from our security forces.”
Referencing the famous quote by former United States Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, Henry Kissinger that reads, “A diamond is a chunk of coal that did well under pressure,” Prime Minister Harris called on the men and women of the security forces to become “diamonds” in their pursuit of law and order in the country.
The prime minister noted that his administration continues, and will always do whatever it can within the limits of national resources, to ensure that the security forces are equipped with the necessary tools to effectively protect and serve the people.
“That is why we, for example, brought in the Bramshill Policing Advisors to help with the provision of training and mentoring and enhancement of the investigative work in crime fighting in our country. That is why we invested in the K-9 unit; that is why we are pursuing the expansion of our CCTV [programme] with the assistance of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and that is why we have enhanced the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force’s communication abilities with the Motorola Digital Radio System,” the National Security Minister stated, noting that his Government has also invested heavily in state-of-the-art forensic equipment and brought in a leading forensic expert in the region, Mr. Narace Ramnarine, to head the police force’s Forensic Unit.
Prime Minister Harris reminded those gathered at Government House on Wednesday, July 19, for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal presentation ceremony that for the financial year 2017, his Government provided $72 million for the Ministry of National Security – representing the largest ever budgetary allocation ever given to that ministry.
Dr. Harris continued, “That is why in the end, we have recently, on advice, hired a top notch National Security Advisor in the person of retired Major General Stewart Saunders. My Government’s commitment is that we will leave no stone unturned to make our country the safest country in the Western Hemisphere.”
