OPPOSITION LEADER CALLED UPON TO ACT MORE RESPONSIBLY IN HIS STATEMENTS ON CRIME AND VIOLENCE

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, August 29, 2018 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – The Leader of the Opposition in St. Kitts and Nevis was recently blasted for what is being described as his irresponsible statements in the public domain that seek to incite violence in the country as a means of gaining political mileage.

Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, while speaking at a forum on Tuesday, August 28, called upon Opposition Leader, Dr. Denzil Douglas, to be more responsible with his rhetoric, referencing an occasion when he, Dr. Douglas, openly professed to being a master of incitement during a meeting in Cayon.

Prime Minister Harris also challenged the genuineness of Dr. Douglas’ concerns for addressing the crime situation in St. Kitts and Nevis, particularly as it was under the leadership of the former administration that several key infrastructures including police stations, schools, medical facilities and the Coast Guard base were allowed to enter certain stages of dilapidation.

“A stone’s throw from where Denzil Douglas lives occasionally in St. Paul’s is the St. Paul’s Police Station. Denzil Douglas allowed the St. Paul’s Police Station to go dogs…unfit for performance. We had to close it down to save the lives of the police officers there,” Prime Minister Harris said, while noting that it was clear then that law and order was not a priority under Dr. Douglas’ leadership.

The Team Unity-led administration was also forced to close the Old Road Police Station and the Newcastle Police Station which became unfit for purpose. These are other examples of the bad inheritance left behind by the former Dr. Denzil Douglas-led administration.

Furthermore, it was under the former St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party-led government that homicides in St. Kitts and Nevis reached a record high of 34 in 2011.

Prime Minister Harris disclosed that his Team Unity-led administration has undoubtedly spared no expense in its attempt to preserve the safety and security of the citizens, residents and visitors to the twin island Federation.

“Every area of engagement—transportation, science and technology, a forensic lab, vehicles, protective armory for law enforcement—we have always provided that support. The support has been tangible where we put our money where our mouths are and it has been legislative where the Attorney General has brought the requisite legislation to the Parliament for debate and passage, and we have to ensure then that having done all of these things the country is placed in a better position than it ever has been,” Prime Minister Harris said.

“Our resolve to fight crime remains strong and we intend to ensure that our country receives a peace dividend,” Dr. Harris continued.