BASSETERRE, ST KITTS – Calling again for a national consultation to revert the present crisis in crime, former Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas says Prime Minister Dr the Hon. Timothy Harris should relinquish the Ministry of National Security portfolio.
Appearing on the “Issues” programme on Wednesday, the Political Leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party welcomed the statements from Tourism Minister Hon. Lindsay Grant and Foreign Minister Hon. Mark Brantley “for coming to the realisation, although belatedly, that St. Kitts and Nevis faces a national crime crisis that needs all of our combined efforts involving not only the police, not only the army, not only the Labour Party and the PAM party and the other political parties, but we need to also involve civil society.”
There have been 27 murders in St. Kitts and Nevis for 2016. The three murders last week included a young businesswoman gunned down as she and her fiancé were about to deposit night bags at the Royal Bank of Canada branch in the Horsford’s Valu Mart Complex.
“We are calling upon civil society to become mobilised and let us see if we can sit down around the table and come up with a solution that we know can be found in leading our country out of this national crisis,” said Dr. Douglas, who acknowledged that it might be difficult for another Cabinet minister to succeed Dr Harris as Minister of National Security.
“I believe that he should be put under pressure by his colleagues to step down from that ministry. It seems as though he has been training Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. Ian Patches Liburd, because he has putting him to act on several occasions,” said Dr. Douglas who advised Dr. Harris: “If that is you are going to do as your choice, then go ahead. For God’s sake get somebody else and let us see if we can resolve these issues.”
“The St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party stands ready to join with (government ministers) Hon. Mark Brantley and Hon. Lindsay Grant and others who now recognise that there has to be a consultative approach in finding solutions in finding solution to crime and criminal activity in our country. We are tired of the rapes. We are tired of the armed robberies. We are tired of the shootings. We are tired of the murders. We do not deserve it and something needs to be done and the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party strands ready and willing and able to sit down and find solutions to the problems of crime and criminal activity in our country,” said Dr. Douglas on the “Issues” programme.
