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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, August 15, 2019 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – The positive week for the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, and law enforcement in general, continued today (Thursday, August 15) as the police force’s vehicular fleet was significantly boosted with the addition of 12 new vehicles, thanks to a generous donation from the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan).

The vehicles were handed over to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis by Resident Ambassador of Taiwan to St. Kitts and Nevis, His Excellency Tom Lee, during a brief ceremony held at the Police Training School.

Ambassador Lee, while delivering remarks, stated that his government remains committed to assisting the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis in achieving its goal of becoming the safest small island state in the world.

“As a strong ally of St. Kitts and Nevis, this is not the first time we have made this kind of donation and we will continue to make contributions in this area so that the people living in this great country can enjoy peace and stability,” His Excellency Lee stated.

Acting Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hilroy Brandy, noted that these 12 new vehicles will significantly enhance the police force’s nation-wide response, its traffic management capabilities and increase its community patrols.

Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, delivered the featured remarks at the handing over ceremony. The prime minister noted that the provision of adequate resources to law enforcement has been a focus point of the Team Unity administration since 2015.

Dr. Harris pointed out that his administration has made year on year increases to the budgetary allocation to the Ministry of National Security, which includes the $80.4 million in support provided for 2019. That figure represents the highest ever budgetary allocation to National Security in the history of the country.

“My Government has not been timid or shy to make the necessary resource allocation to keep our country safe. What we expect from this investment is that we will get a peace dividend; we will get greater freedom; our people will not fear moving from point A to point B because the police and the defence force and all of law enforcement agencies will be well equipped to defend the peace of the country and to serve and to protect,” Prime Minister Harris stressed.

The honourable prime minister also expressed his profound gratitude to the Government and people of the Republic of China (Taiwan) for its continued support to the twin island Federation, adding, “I want to commend the Resident Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) for spearheading the bilateral cooperation and to ensure that today the police force stands stronger, in terms of resources, that we were yesterday.”

The Taiwan government has also agreed to provide spare parts for the new vehicles free of cost for a two-year period.