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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, July 4, 2019 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – As St. Kitts and Nevis continues to enjoy an unprecedented period of calm, Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris said his Team Unity administration is open and willing to partner with any entity and listen to all ideas that can bring about an even greater level of peace in the country.

“Every initiative to help keep our country safe by any entity will be and is welcomed by my administration as a positive move,” Prime Minister Harris said while addressing the nation during his Tuesday, July 2 press conference.

The prime minister continued, “We have been supportive of efforts whether it is of the church, or the business community, or a charity group or just an interested passerby to do something to assist with the safety of St. Kitts and Nevis, we have always encouraged these efforts.”

Prime Minister Harris further indicated that there are currently a number of patriotic members of society who have committed to working with gangs and other vulnerable groups to bring about positive change in individuals’ attitude to life and living.

“My Cabinet commends those efforts involving pastors, psychologists, counselors, businessmen, professionals and parents for this initiative to find alternative pathways for our people and to encourage them away from the senseless reprisal killings to working and living peacefully together,” the honourable prime minister reaffirmed.

Dr. Harris, who also serves as the Minister of National Security, added that his government has been approached by the outreach team of patriots with concrete measures which the team considers could help preserve peace and law and order in our Federation.

He said, “These measures, we believe and are advised, will help build a more cohesive and inclusive society where all are endeavoring, all are contributing and all are achieving in St. Kitts and Nevis. Several of the recommendations seem so sensible you wonder why they weren’t thought of or implemented before and some of them conform with our government’s commitment to finding and implementing lasting solutions for safety, security and the stability of our beautiful nation.”

Prime Minister Harris said his government will continue to support and invest in the continued success of its social intervention programmes including the Explorers Youth Group, the Teens and Police Support (TAPS) programmes in primary and secondary schools, as well as the efforts facilitated by Dr. Neals Chitan to better prepare grade six students for transition into secondary schools. It is hoped that effort will result in a reduction in the dropout rates in the early years of secondary school and consequential vulnerability to gang life.