Commissioner praises Witness Protection Programme
(ZIZ News) — Eye witnesses to violent crimes in the Federation of St. Kitts-Nevis should not be afraid to provide evidence, thanks to a Witness Protection Programme managed by the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force.
In an interview with ZIZ News, Commissioner of Police, Dr. Celvin Walwyn said the Force is willing to protect witnesses even if it means relocating them to another island.
“We’ve had a couple of homicides in 2014 and we have had eye witnesses but they just won’t come forward. People need to understand that we do have a Witness Protection Programme. You do not have to stay in St. Kitts, but if you choose to stay here, we have places that we can put you where you’ll be protected but if you choose to go off island, we have other islands where we can place you and we will take care of you while you are there,” he said.
Commissioner Walwyn also said that a new law permits witnesses to testify via the internet.
“We also have a law that permits us now to have you testify over the internet so if you are off island in a secure place you can use the computer to give your testimony in court, you don’t have to be in St. Kitts to give that testimony so there is no need for people to be worried about pointed out or be victimized,” he said.
The Federation recorded 21 murders in both 2013 and 2014.