BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Jan. 31, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris, has issued a passionate call for the end what he calls the senseless killings taking place in the country.

Harris, who is also National Security Minister, made the plea in the wake of the recent fatal shooting two young men from his constituency and the upsurge in gun violence that has resulted in at least two other deaths this month.

“We must bring a message of rebuilding, of renewal from our own households—so we have illegal weapons, we have to ensure that we call in the police to make sure that that situation is cleaned up,” Harris said to a group of constituents on Saturday, adding that (if) we have persons who we know are involved in drugs—wherever there are drugs, guns are not far behind—we have to ensure that we encourage these people to give up that life for one which is more law-abiding.”

He said the Government is prepared to provide special support to those who are involved in drugs and guns and who are determined to make a turnaround so that they can become more law-abiding citizens.

He urged the community to share information about what they know of criminal activities to the relevant and confidential authorities.

“The police are charged with protecting us and we have to ensure that we cooperate with them…we can also find a friend, a pastor, parliamentary representative, somebody who we could tell,” he said.
“We have to begin to get our communities cleaned up because innocent lives are being lost that way and as people come into the communities to take revenge, it is quite probable that an innocent person’s life would be lost, so all of us can do something, can share some information, can insist among our family members and friends by giving them strong warning,” the Prime Minister said while admonishing those involved in gangs to withdraw from them.

“It is destroying families, it is destroying communities. Eventually, if we don’t curb it, it will destroy our country and so we have to nip it in the bud,” he said, while encouraging young persons to be exposed to a life of prayer and godliness.