Published 13 July 2017
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News
PM Harris cannot be trusted on crime figures
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JULY 13TH 2017 –Dr. Terrance Drew, the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) caretaker for St. Christopher 8 said Prime Minister Harris in his capacity as Minister of National Security, cannot be trusted when he provides figures on crime for St. Kitts, pointing out previous statements were found to be grossly false.
He noted while Dr. Harris was boasting to the nation that crime was trending downwards, statistics released by Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ian Queeley indicated a near 60 percent increase in crime in 2016 over 2015.
“These are the blatant lies. Dr. Harris in his capacity as Minister of National Security would have received in advance the report from the Commissioner of Police which would have informed him violent crimes were up. He looked the nation in the face and said crime was trending downwards,” said Dr. Drew, who noted prior to the recent elections, Harris gave the electorate that he had all the answers to prevent crime.
While Dr. Harris was boasting about crime trending downwards his Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Mr. Osmond Petty admitted that crime statistics in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis are not to be proud of.
“Many people focus on the failures, the crime statistics …… the statistics are not something to be proud of,” said Petty at a meeting at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine.
Statistics from the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force indicate a near 60 percent increase in crime in 2016 compared to 2015 with a triple digit increase in shootings and double digits increase in murder, break-ins, larceny, indecent assault, rape, unlawful carnal knowledge, non-firearm wounding, arson and drug-related offences.
The number of murders increased from 28 in 2015 to 32 in 2016, an increase of over 10%.
Breakings increased from 242 in 2015 to 415 in 2016, an increase of over 71%.
Larcenies increased by 81%, going from 215 in 2015 to 390 in 2016.
The incidences of ‘shooting at with intent’ showed marked increase of 160%, rising from 10 in 2015 to 26 in 2016.
Reported sex crimes including rape, indecent assault and unlawful carnal knowledge also increased by 25%, going from 36 in 2015 to 45 in 2016.
Wounding by firearms fell sharply from 15 in 2015 to 5 in 2016, a decrease of 66%, while wounding by other means rose by 65%, from 69 in 2015 to 114 in 2016.
Drug offences, namely possession, trafficking, importation of illegal drugs, went from 204 in 2015 to 275, an increase of 34%.
Malicious damage and arson almost doubled in 2016, going from 86 in 2015 to 167 in 2016, up 94%.
Offences under the category of other crimes also rose from 29 in 2015 to 47 in 2016.
The number of robberies decreased by 12%, from 65 in 2015 to 57 in 2016.
