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Statement by Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris,
Prime Minister and Minister of National Security
on the Deployment of RSS in St. Kitts and Nevis
Saturday, October 13th, 2018
My Fellow Citizens and Residents,
It is my duty to report to you on another initiative undertaken by my Government to enhance the safety and security of all persons on St. Kitts and Nevis.
We are concerned that there must be a reduction in the incidences of criminal acts in our country. In this regard, we have over time engaged civil society and our security forces in conversations about what can and should be done.
After recent consultation with the High Command of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and other technocrats in the Ministry of National Security, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has approved their recommendation to invite the Barbados-based Regional Security System (RSS) to deploy forces to St. Kitts and Nevis.
The High Command of the Police has advised that the Force would benefit from additional manpower at this time. The shortage of manpower affects the ability of the Police to properly execute their strategic plan and has prompted the call from them for the RSS to augment the number of security personnel on the ground. The Government continues to appeal to young Kittitians and Nevisians to take advantage of the career opportunities in Serving their Country as police officers.
The RSS forces began arriving into the Federation on Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 and will continue to arrive into St. Kitts and Nevis in sufficient numbers to assist our ongoing efforts at ensuring citizen safety and security. RSS members are already deployed throughout the communities with local national security personnel, and their presence will help local law enforcement to expand the extent of their coverage of the country.
St. Kitts and Nevis is a member of the RSS and financially contributes to support the functioning of this important regional security mechanism. That membership and financial contribution oblige the RSS to assist the Federation when necessary. It is yet another available security asset and my Government will not hesitate to utilize all assets at our disposal to further the peace and security of our country.
This deployment of the RSS to St. Kitts and Nevis demonstrates yet another example of the Team Unity Government’s commitment to ensure the safety and security of you, our beloved citizens and residents of St. Kitts and Nevis. The RSS will remain in St. Kitts and Nevis for as long as necessary until the security forces advise that their presence is no longer required.
The Government asks for the fullest understanding and cooperation of the general public in their engagement with the RSS members and the members of the local security forces. Public safety and security are my Government’s highest priorities and no stone shall be left unturned and no effort or expense spared in ensuring that all Kittitians and Nevisians and all who call St. Kitts and Nevis home are safe and secure.
Let all of us do the best we can to keep our country safe. Let all of us respect the law and those whose task it is to enforce the law.
I am optimistic that it is within the realm of possibility to make St. Kitts and Nevis the safest small island state.
May God Bless And Protect Us All. I thank you.
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