Crime/Justice

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, June 7^th 2017 – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Leader of the Opposition, the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas saidTuesday the Team Unity Government lacks a plan in dealing with the increasing crime levels in St. Kitts and Nevis.

Dr. Douglas also accused the government of Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris of being unable to give comfort to the parents and guardian following the disappearance of a 17-year-old BHS student.

He slammed the Government for “criticising and tearing down and deliberately deceiving the people” while in opposition and now in government “has no alternative to put in place.”

“That is why we have the chaos and confusion and the mayhem and the slaughtering in our country, because there were a group of persons who tore down everything that they saw within the scope of politics in order to get into government and now they are in government they are unable to manage the situation because there is no plan, and no strategy,” said Dr. Douglas during his weekly radio programme “Ask the Leader.”

The former prime minister also accused the Timothy Harris Government of being “clueless in dealing with the serious social problems especially criminal activity and the high level of homicides.

“This government lacks the capability and the ability to give policy directives in dealing with the present crime wave and for the future peace and security of residents and visitors,” Dr. Douglas said.

He said the government is also unable to give comfort to the parents of children who leave their homes at mornings for school and to write examinations and who do not return home.

“This government does not have the plan in dealing with such issues when they arise,” said Dr. Douglas, who blasted the Team Unity Government of Dr. Harris for responding three weeks after a national outcry to the disappearance of 17-year-old Basseterre High School (BHS) Leanna Napoleon.

“It took the government almost three weeks to hold a  press conference in a vain effort to allay the fears and concerns of parents in the country as to what will happen if their own children fall into similar situations,” Dr. Douglas told listeners.

“How is the government going to tackle similar problems in the future and what assurance can it give to parents, guardians and citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis that there is a concerted plan of action to pursue when such matters arise,” he asked.

It will be one month on June 8^th that Napoleon went missing after writing a CXC paper at her school.

St. Kitts and Nevis recorded four murders between last Friday and Tuesday. The number of murders stands at 13 for 2017.

The spate of crime in St. Kitts and Nevis continues amidst police reports of a 60 percent increase in crime in 2016 over 2015.

The total number of reported crimes in 2016 was 1643, compared to 1048 in 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 homicides increased from 28 to 31 over the comparative period, 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.