Tweet

Basseterre, St.Kitts (TUCOM):- St.Kitts-Nevis Leader of the Opposition Dr. Denzil Douglas has no moral authority to speak on the issues related to crime in the federation. This is the sentiment held by the vast majority of citizens and residents.
For the last 10 years of his 20 year rule of the twin island nation Dr. Douglas oversaw the most murderous decade in the history of the country. Well over 200 murders took place in the period with a record breaking year in 2011 when the country landed on top the United Nations World’s Most Murderous Cities list and was featured in the UK Guardian Newspaper (see link : http://www.theguardian.com/cities/gallery/2014/jun/24/10-world-cities-highest-murder-rates-homicides-in-pictures) In a three year period between 2009 and 2011 the federation recorded 80 murders.
The islands experienced the most horrific and heinous violent crimes the country has ever seen during the last decade of the leadership of Dr. Douglas. The triple murder at the countries busiest night club and the double murder at the steps of a popular local church and the kidnapping and rape of a young girl, the high day robbery of the Royal Bank, and the 4 murders in 4 hellacious days in the federation filled with scores of shooting incidents in 2011, are just some of the plethora of unprecedented violent crimes that took place under Dr. Douglas while he served in many cases as the Minister of National Security and as Prime Minister in all cases.
The Dr. Douglas led administration produced no Crime Fighting Plan whether long or short term. Scores of murders went unsolved during the final decade of his administration. ‘
Dr. Douglas’ appointment of a Commissioner of Police CG Walwyn brought with it more of the same and some say an even worse situation as Commissioner Walwyn had the dubious distinction of overseeing more murders than any other Commissioner in the history of St.Kitts-Nevis. During his 3 year stint as Commissioner the country recorded a whopping 91 murders. No Commissioner has ever had as much murders under their watch in SKN history.
In a statement issued on Wednesday Dr. Douglas has sort to criticize the current Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris led Team UNITY Administration;s handling of the horrendous crime situation left by his administration. His juvenile reference to members of the current high command and hear-say statements regarding their appointments speaks to the level of Dr. Douglas’ hypocrisy and immaturity as while he is lobbying for the appointments of one of the 3 headed High Command as the COP he never saw it fit to appoint any of the highly professional and competent men to the same top COP position. The competent trio of Ag COP Stafford Liburd and ACP’s Queeley and Henderson as the High Command has paid dividends as overall crime has shown decreases.
The New team UNITY Administration can boast that in just their first 8 months in office the Police force has received more support and resources than they have ever received in any other period in the country’s history. The police have been exposed to more training and interaction with international recognized security agencies such as the FBI, Scotland Yard and the Canadian Mounting Police.
In a recent statement Team UNITY Administration Leader Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris revealed a number of initiatives, projects and assistance the government will provide in efforts of advancing the services of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF).
“I am pleased to report that yesterday (Monday 12th October), I received a cheque of US $315,000 or EC $850,500, from the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan). These funds will support the extension of the services of the Bramshill Police Advisors out of England, and other initiatives of law and order. …Additionally, we expect a new fleet of vehicles for our law enforcement agencies……..”
In September The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) had its crime-fighting capacity beefed up with the donation of a master of biohazard evidence collection forensic kit donated by Amalgamated Security Services Ltd (ASSL) of Trinidad and Tobago. In addition Twenty officers successfully completed a firearms and ballistics course funded and conducted by the United Nations Regional Center for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Prime Minister Harris also recently announced that UK advisors along with the FBI are working with the High Command to lay out a plan to help professionalize the police force and take it to the next level. He revealed the introduction of a police strategic plan 2015-2018, which will see a systematic program of enhancing the capability and capacity of the Force to deliver professionally.
Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris has ensured over the last 8 months that the The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) has been more resourced than any other time in history. The upcoming budget will see a greater emphasis on crime fighting.
Former Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas led us into this quagmire and rather than continuing his juvenile highgly political approach to address and highlight issues he should do the country a favour and first seek repentance for the way he misguided and managed our crime fighting and pledge his parties commitment to providing support to and for the crime fighting initiatives and policies of the Team UNITY administration which has shown their significiant commitment to the enhancement of the St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) and crime fighting in SKN.
Since the introduction of the 6 point plan, the rate of homicides is falling and overall serious crimes except for a number of homicides are down. In February 2015, Douglas had already overseen 8 homicides under his watch for the year.